Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, November 25, 1995                   TAG: 9511270046
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAN CASEY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BROWN, CLOUDY WATER CLEARING UP IN ROANOKE

Craig Sluss, manager of the city Water Department, said air in the pipes of a new water line coupled with hydrant-flushing by firefighters caused problems for some households in northern and central Roanoke this week.

While it may have looked unappetizing, "all they're seeing is sediment ... the water's safe, the water's good," Sluss said. It should be clear in all households by the end of the weekend, he said.

Cloudy water showed up in some households about midweek, after utility workers began routing water through a new 36-inch main connected to a new pumping station in Northwest Roanoke.

The cloudiness was caused by air in the waterlines. The new line has since been shut down while workers attempt to bleed air from the new system.

The problem was compounded by some flushing of hydrants by the Fire Department. That stirred up sediment in some old lines, but it's mostly iron and calcium.

Water Department tests revealed the water was safe to drink, Sluss said.

"It maybe looks a little cloudy, but it's good.''