Talladega officials investigating dirty water | News

TALLADEGA, AL (WBRC)- Talladega City officials say they're looking into complaints about water that sometimes comes out of faucets brown and with an odor.

Talladega City Manager Brian Muenger tells FOX6 News he and the city's newly-hired waterworks manager have been in touch with ADEM, as water employees check several area water mains. Muenger says he suspects the discoloration may come from recently flushed lines, and says in some cases the sediment may have even built up in customers' water heaters.

Susan Gunter brought this to the city's attention. Gunter says her water turned beige, and developed a smell like "rotten eggs," over the weekend.

"It was just awful, just really dirty," she said.

Gunter says she became upset when she called the Talladega Waterworks multiple times, getting voice mail and no call backs. So she posted photos on Facebook and tagged multiple users, including FOX6 Anniston Videojournalist Dixon Hayes and FOX6's Facebook page.

Ultimately, Muenger said Gunter's photos and the Facebook comments under them, made it to his desk. He personally came to Gunter's house to look at it.

Gunter said she believes the city is working on the problem and suspects the flushed lines issue may be the culprit. She said the city did install a new fire hydrant on the corner just before her latest bout with bad water.

Muenger said the city, and ADEM, have taken samples and he said the water is safe enough to use for bathing.

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