Concern Over Brown Water Coming Out of Tap In Goleta

Some people living in Goleta got an unpleasant surprise over the weekend.

Dark brown and yellow water streamed out of the tap, toilets and washing machines.

Officials with the Goleta Water District said they received 16 complaints from people living near Berkeley and Princeton Streets after a new well was brought online.

Assistant General Manager David Matson told NewsChannel 3 that iron and manganese, which are naturally occurring in the Goleta Groundwater Basin, got through the filters and into the water system.

The well was shut down and is no longer producing water.

Matson said water quality issues underscore the severity of the drought and the need to continue conservation efforts.

Traditionally, 90% of Goleta’s water came from Lake Cachuma and imported state water.

Now, 60% of its water comes from ground wells.

“In general, water quality has declined during the drought and we don’t have any reason to believe that water quality will get better as the drought does continue especially as we rely on that groundwater,” Matson said.

Residents who are experiencing brown water coming out of the tap are advised to flush the system for 3 to 5 minutes.

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