Statement from the Town of Waynesville in regards to the current discolored water:

In cases where customers see water that looks to be dirty or discolored, this is due to insufficient orthophosphate residuals in Waynesville’s water system. Per the Town of Waynesville, this is strictly an aesthetic issue and is NOT harmful. The water is being regularly tested and is well within the state defined drinking water parameters. Waynesville has been communicating with the state and they are in agreement and should clear up in a day or so.

The insufficient orthophosphate causes the protective phosphate film on the piping to slough off, resulting in a tinged appearance to the water. This is occurring due to an unintended side effect of their low water levels which is a result from pulling water from lake levels they’ve never pulled from before.