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Manganese in reservoir causes discoloration; city addressing problem
By Bob Downing
Beacon Journal
Published on Friday, Jul 25, 2008
Akron's drinking water is discolored, but city officials say the problem is nothing to worry about.
The water has ''a straw-colored tint,'' Michael McGlinchy, head of Akron's Public Utilities Bureau, said Thursday. ''It looks discolored, a little bit yellowish, almost like after hydrants are flushed.''
The city has received ''a couple hundred calls'' about the problem, he said.
The reason for the discoloration is a high level of naturally occurring manganese from the water in Lake Rockwell, Akron's main drinking-water reservoir in Portage County, and the Cuyahoga River that feeds Lake Rockwell.
The metal seeps from sediments and stream banks into the water, he said.
The problem pops up periodically, McGlinchy said, and Akron deals with it by adjusting the chemicals that are added to the water at the Lake Rockwell treatment plant.
The water normally has 0.05 milligram of manganese per liter of water, and the current levels are 0.1 to 0.2 milligram per liter, he said.
Akron is adding extra chlorine dioxide — a chemical normally put in the water — plus doses of potassium permanganate, a chemical not normally needed, McGlinchy said.
The manganese levels on Thursday appeared reduced at the water plant, but it will be a day or two before Akron customers get that water at their homes, he said.
There is no health or safety issue with the manganese levels, he said. It is considered an aesthetics issue like taste or odor.
McGlinchy said people may want to refrain from doing light-colored laundry until the water clears up.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.
Akron's drinking water is discolored, but city officials say the problem is nothing to worry about.
Get the full article here.

