Pierce County neighborhood dealing with brown water

SPANAWAY, Wash. — The Rainier View Water Company announced, less than two weeks after this report, that workers would fully shut down water in the area November 4 and 5 to flush all pipes.

Neighbors said they have never seen the company do such a comprehensive “flushing” before.  Several credited KIRO 7’s story as the reason for the action.  “I think sometimes it’s the squeaky wheel that took the attention,” said one neighbor.

Rainier View has yet to return calls inquiring as to if the company seeing the flushing as a long term solution, or is still counting on a new filtration system to eventually solve the brown water problem.

Our previous report:

A Pierce County neighborhood is dealing with spooky looking water this Halloween.

The Springwood neighborhood has brownish water flowing into their homes.

“It’s disgusting,” Audra Sanders said, showing KIRO 7 pictures. “It makes me think I want to move that’s what it makes me think, I’ve discussed it with my kids.”

The problem has persisted for years.  It comes and goes, but only recently did people realize so many of their neighbors were dealing with the same problem.

The brown water leaves nearly impossible to remove stains on toilets, tubs and sinks.  People claim it’s giving them health problems and rashes.

The Rainier View Water Company operates this local Southwood Water System.  A spokesman said the water is from naturally occurring wells and has safe levels of minerals in it.

The spokesman said five months ago, the company put in a new filtration system in, which will eventually improve things.  Since then, the company has been flushing the pipes and expects the water to be better in another six months to a year.

However, neighbors like Sanders are tired of excuses.  She is refusing to pay her bill this month.

KIRO