Discolored water worries residents in Dover

DOVER, Del. – “It has like a lead smell to it like some kind of chemicals in it,” said Ericka Woods, a Dover resident.

Residents across Dover are tired of the water that’s been pouring out of their faucets for more than a decade.

“It’s a burden, but it’s a burden that we’ve lived with since 2001,” said Dover City Manager, Donna Mitchell.

That is why the city is taking action.

They announced that they will flush several sections of the water distribution system while also relining pipes around the area.

It is all part of a plan that costs the city up to a million dollars every year.

“We got to continue until we get it all fixed,” said Mitchell.

Despite these growing concerns, city officials say that their water is harmless.

According to officials, areas affected include Long Point Road, Horse Pond Road as well as Pear Street.

“It’s very frustrating because you don’t know what’s in the water, so you don’t know if it can harm your body in any type of way,” said Woods.

Some residents say, the brown-yellow water mostly comes out of their bathroom faucets and has a funky smell.

They hope city officials will get it all fixed sooner rather than later.

“You worry for your neighbors, you worry for other people especially, if it’s clean,” said Woods.

“You want to know that what’s going on your body is clean,” said Woods.

Although city officials are aware of these complaints some of them say they are not exactly sure when the situation will be lifted in the years to come.

“I know we have a long way to go, I can tell you that because there’s a lot of line in the ground, the city is 26 square miles,” said Mitchell.

City leaders say that they do run into budget constraints and that is a concern for their water plan.