Yaletown residents left puzzled by 'cloudy' coffee-coloured tap water
Yaletown residents were left puzzled (and in some cases disgusted) on Friday afternoon after their tap water suddenly turned cloudy, with some saying it looked “like coffee.”
Reports of murky and brown water poured in from across the neighbourhood, including Richards, Seymour, Pacific, Helmcken, Homer, and Davie streets.
The City of Vancouver confirmed it received multiple reports of “water turbidity” in the neighbourhood early Friday afternoon.
In a statement to Daily Hive, a city spokesperson said staff determined the cloudiness was “most likely a result of increased demand and velocities in the water system that stirred up sediment in the pipes.”
“This is a common cause of cloudy or turbid water experienced by customers and can take time to settle in the water system,” the spokesperson said in an email, adding that water quality in affected buildings was already clearing by the time staff followed up with residents.
Residents described everything from mild cloudiness to dark brown water on the Yaletown Residents Facebook group where more than 30 people reported the condition of the water.
Supplied.
One person at 811 Helmcken commented on the group that the discoloration “definitely ruined my afternoon coffee.”
Others received different explanations.
“[At] 1408 Strathmore, we got notices from strata saying there were complaints of brown water and to run taps until clear, blaming ‘local construction,'” resident Jodie Stark told Daily Hive.
“Which is bizarre….they just started digging next door. I heard my other place at 1238 Richards also had issues with brown water.”
The city confirmed that no ongoing construction in the area was causing the problem, and no boil-water advisory was issued.
While the City maintains the water was safe to drink, some residents remain uneasy.
“Our water might look clear right now, but I’ve been dealing with a terrible sore throat and I’m convinced it’s from the dirty water,” Yaletown resident Lekha Jhalawat told Daily Hive.
Despite the murky appearance, the city stressed the water remained safe to drink and use.
“Cloudy water does not mean the water is contaminated or unsafe,” the City’s statement said.
“If people are still experiencing issues with their water quality, we encourage them to report through 311 or the Van311 app, as that is the best way for us to understand the issues and respond appropriately.”
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