FAQs • Longview, WA • CivicEngage

Why does my tap water appear to be discolored?: If unusually high water flows occur in the water mains to due a main break, firefighting efforts, or during system flushing, then a customer’s water may be brown or orange in color. In this case, the water should clear up within several hours. Please not that the discolored water is still safe to drink. The City of Longview Utility Department conducts a flushing program to remove sediment that accumulates in the water main to minimize these causes of discolored water.

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Water Distribution

1. Why does my tap water appear to be discolored?: If unusually high water flows occur in the water mains to due a main break, firefighting efforts, or during system flushing, then a customer’s water may be brown or orange in color. In this case, the water should clear up within several hours. Please not that the discolored water is still safe to drink. The City of Longview Utility Department conducts a flushing program to remove sediment that accumulates in the water main to minimize these causes of discolored water.

Your water meter generally will be in front of your property line by the street or at your property line by the alley way.

If you still have trouble locating your water meter please contact the Utility Operations Center at 360-442-5700.

3. Where does my water come from?: The Mint Farm Regional Water Treatment Plant, which takes water from underground. To learn more about our water system, visit the Water Treatment Division web page.

4. What is my water pressure?: That depends on where you live in Longview. Please contact the Utility Operations Center 360-442-5700.

5. Why is there increased sediment present when city staff performs flushing activities?: Sediment and scale have built up on cast iron pipe walls over the past 75 years due to the corrosivity of the river water supply. Changes in water chemistry and increased flushing at higher velocities have dislodged some of these materials, which are now coming out of the system when the City performs flushing activities. As the system stabilizes, a decrease in flushed sediment is expected.

6. Has there been a change in the pH levels after switching to the new water source?: No. The pH targets for river water and groundwater sources are the same, approximately 7.6 to 7.7 leaving the plant. Upon startup of the groundwater plant, the pH was a bit lower, so it was increased to meet the established target.