A dripping faucet. Photo by Danny Steaven. Source: Wikimedia commons

DeKalb County is warning that residents who turn on their water Tuesday morning, Dec. 6, might notice “discoloration.”

That’s because the county is bringing a 30-inch transmission main back online after repairs.

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“The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) has completed the restoration of a 30-inch transmission main that carries water from the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant under Interstate 85, serving water customers throughout DeKalb County,” a press release from the county says. “DWM crews will begin to bring the main back online tomorrow, Dec. 6, at 9 a.m.  As water is fully restored, there may be temporary discoloration in the water.”

Commissioner Kathie Gannon said in a Facebook post the discoloration will affect residences in the commission districts that include the city of Decatur and it surrounding communities.

“This should primarily affect Districts 2 and 6, but could theoretically occur on the north side of District 3,” Gannon wrote.

The county says the discoloration is caused by “particles” that build up in water mains that get stirred up when water flow patterns change.

“Residents who notice a discoloration in the water should allow the water at an external hose faucet or sink to run a few minutes to flush the line to the home,” the county’s press release says. “DWM will simultaneously flush the water main to remove air and particles, but are unable to flush out individual service lines.”

The repair work to fix water leaks began in 2014, the county says. The county says the project took two years, “due to the complexity of the repair.”

“In order to minimize interference with I-85 usage, the repair was made utilizing trenchless technology with a Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) lining,” the press release says. “The new CIPP liner acts as a pipe within a pipe, negating the need to replace the existing pipe. The length of the liner is approximately 350 linear feet.”

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