Towns Dealing With Brown Water

HOLDENVILLE, Okla. (AP) _ The water in about 20 Oklahoma towns has turned brown, which state environmental officials attribute to high levels of a naturally occurring metal found in rocks. Officials

Saturday, August 25th 2007, 10:57 am

By: News On 6

HOLDENVILLE, Okla. (AP) _ The water in about 20 Oklahoma towns has turned brown, which state environmental officials attribute to high levels of a naturally occurring metal found in rocks. Officials insist the water is safe to drink, although the water is leaving stains on clothing, sinks and toilets.

Other towns dealing with the problem include Frederick, McAlester and Coweta. State environmental officials say the coloring of the water is due to high levels of manganese.

The levels of the metal have risen because of heavy rains in recent months and the seasonal rising and falling of water in lakes.

Manganese is found in several foods, including grains and cereals, as well as in tea.

Tony Lacy, Holdenville's public works director, says that town's water should be clear by next week.

He says town employees have given residents a clearing chemical used by the town to put in their laundry and drinking water.