Water Have a Pink Tint? City Says Run the Water Until It's Gone

On Thursday, the City of Saline reported on its Facebook page that it overused the chemical potassium permanganate while treating its water. The chemical is used to facilitate the removal of iron from drinking water.

"This chemical, potassium permanganate, is certified for use in drinking water treatment and the only adverse effect is aesthetic. It gave a slight pink tint to the water. If you notice this situation, running of the water will clear it up quickly," the notice read.

Bill Briggs, supervisor of water and wastewater for the city, explained a little more.

"While the work was being done, the plant was shut down suddenly, and the potassium permanganate continued to feed briefly before shutting down," Briggs said, explaining the excess chemical. "The amount was very small but potassium permanganate  has a strong color with it. We know it was small, partly due to people reporting a pink tinge in their water. It is not harmful at these very low amounts."

Ingesting the chemical at high levels can cause health issues.

Read More:
Potassium-Permanganate-Guidance-and-Risk-Assessment-.pdf

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