Milky Water with Chemical Smell Stirs Up Concern

Many folks in Elkins are complaining their water smells like chemicals and looks more like milk, but city officials said it is safe to drink.

"We freaked out because we were trying to water and feed our dogs, and then just milky water, so we didn't know what was going on," said Elkins resident Tyler Casebolt.

White water is coming out of faucets for many families in Elkins.

"We didn't know if there was anything in the water that was contaminating anything and we especially didn't want it going through the whole family."

Casebolt also noticed a chemical smell to his H2O.

"We really didn't even want to try to drink it at all."

But Duane Foster, the Water and Sewer Superintendent in Elkins, wants folks to know it is safe to drink.

"Anytime before you hook to it, you have to have two consecutive samples that come back good from the Arkansas State Health Department."

Foster's crew is replacing the city's 50-year-old cast iron water line with new 14-inch PVC pipes.

"A line that big, you have to chlorinate pretty heavily to make sure that any of the bacteria and everything's killed."

So the chemical smell is chlorine, and air  is actually to blame for the white color.

"When you make tie overs you'll get some air in the line which causes the milkiness," said Foster.

Without much warning, seeing the cloudy H2O was cause for concern in the Casebolt household.

"We had to go buy water bottles, instead of drinking out of the faucets and then help try to water our dogs and our cat that we have... It's just a big hassle because we had no clue... I would have liked to have an explanation before it started happening, and liked to have known that it's safe to drink."

"I understand that folks have had some frustration, and we apologize for that, but we're working hard to get all those issues solved," said Foster.

And he believes the problems will soon be washed away.

"We've flushed for the last couple of days... We feel like probably within another day or two all the issues will be gone."

But in the meantime, Casebolt is still not convinced.

"No, still not going to drink it. Don't trust anything."

The Elkins Water Department created a Facebook page, and they have been posting information about the construction and water. Unfortunately, many people did not realize the department had created a page so the change in the water came as a surprise.

Foster said his crews will continue to flush the pipes until there are no more issues. Construction was completed last week, so Foster believes everything should only be getting better from this point forward.