What's With The Water?

In Plymouth, there are many things people love about the town; whether it is Café Monte Alto, floating the Pemi, or any other small experience that students come to cherish. The occasional brown water found in dorms and off-campus apartments is not one of them, however.

Many students during their time at Plymouth have had the unpleasant experience of turning on a faucet for a drink of water, and it suddenly appears to take on the color of dirt. "The water is absolutely disgusting. I'm so happy that I don't get it at my place this year," said Paul Osborne, a senior. Chris Beulz, also a senior, agreed. "It's so gross. Sometimes it even smells of sulfur."

To many, the brown water is an incredible inconvenience, and can be quite terrifying, especially to a first year student. Dana Hadley, The District Administrator for Plymouth Village Water and Sewer District (PVWSD), explained what makes the water brown at times. "In New Hampshire's groundwater, there is naturally occurring minerals, including manganese. When the manganese gets into the water pipes, it can cause the water to turn brown."

Hadley also said that the water is not dangerous in any way to students. "You can have it in small amounts, but the main concern people should have is when they are doing laundry and manganese gets into the water, so that's something to be mindful of."

When asked if the age or condition of Plymouth's water pipes had anything to do with the water discoloration, Hadley stated that it was not the issue. "Yes, the pipes are older, but the pipes do not date back to the turn of the 20th century."

PVWSD does try to minimize the occurrence of manganese in the water. Occasionally, the pipes are flushed to push out the sediment within them, and that can cause a dark brown color to appear momentarily. For the most part however, the pipes should be clear. Hadley stated that if students have any problems with manganese in the water, PVWSD should be contacted. "With students living on and off-campus, if they have any issues, we would love to know. That way, we can fix the problem as soon as possible."

Students who have multiple periods of brown water and wish to report the problem can call PVWSD at (603) 536-1733.