Yellow Tap Water Has Sierra Madre Residents Seeing Red

SIERRA MADRE (CBSLA.com/AP) — Tap water in Sierra Madre is yellow, and it has some residents see red.

Officials in the tiny city of just under 11,000 residents say the temporary use of imported supplies from the Metropolitan Water District is to blame for the off-putting color, the Los Angeles Times reported.

And they say the water is perfectly safe to drink.

The Sierra Madre Public Works Department was forced to switch to the imported water in September after the state determined that the city's underground aquifer was running low.

The mixture of chlorine and ammonia that the MWD uses to disinfect the water interact with the rust in steel pipes to produce the yellowish color.

In August, officials warned the temporary switch could pose a "serious problem" to residents with kidney disease who may be undergoing dialysis treatment. Any dialysis patients receiving in-home treatment were urged to contact their dialysis provider.

Resident Grant Nelson said the yellow water is embarrassing, adding he has to tell guests that he keeps a clean house and the yellow water is the city's fault, the Times reported.

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