Residents across parts of Greater Manchester discovered brown, sediment-filled water flowing from their taps on Sunday evening. The discoloured water affected areas in the WA3 and WN4 postcodes of Warrington and Wigan, prompting widespread concern and social media posts showing murky bath water and visible sediment in sinks.
The water discolouration was caused by a disturbance in the water mains that stirred up historical sediments, including iron and manganese, that had built up in the pipes over time. United Utilities confirmed the incident and assured residents that despite the alarming appearance, the water is unlikely to be harmful and will settle down naturally.
Official response and safety advice
Local councillor Danny Fletcher met with United Utilities officers to address residents' concerns. Fletcher said: "I've met with United Utilities officers this evening. The issue is due to a disturbance in the water mains, which has stirred up old sediment (like iron and manganese) in the pipes. According to Unitied Utilities, even though it doesn't look great, it's unlikely to be harmful, and will settle down in time."
According to Manchester Evening News, United Utilities provided specific guidance for affected residents, advising them to run their cold water tap at a slight trickle until the water runs clear. The utility company explained that such incidents typically occur after repairs or water main replacements when work disturbs settled material in aging infrastructure.
Residents share shock and concern
Social media quickly filled with alarmed posts from residents discovering the brown water. One person posted: "Omg just run the bath what's going on? We are drinking this too." Another resident expressed frustration, saying: "My taps were running for over an hour as they state to try and clear it and it only got increasingly worse."
Parents were particularly concerned about safety implications. "Oh s***... I used the water in my baby's bottles," one worried parent commented, while another described how their bath water "looked like a sand pit settling on the bottom of it."
Affected areas and timeline
The water quality issues began appearing on Sunday evening across specific postcodes in the Greater Manchester area. Pictures shared online showed clear evidence of sediment accumulation in baths and sinks, with some residents documenting how their bath water had turned a distinctive light brown colour.
Sources used: "Mirror", "Manchester Evening News" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
