Despite the afternoon announcement, Whitman’s water is safe to drink.

The Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission (WSSC), which provides water and sewer services to almost two million people in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, notified the administration that water in the surrounding area had been contaminated with rust.An afternoon announcement advised students not to drink the school’s water until there was more information regarding its safety.

A WSSC inspector promptly tested water from ten fire hydrants in the area and found that all samples were clear. While there was some discoloration found in water at Whitman during the day, most likely caused by rust, the water was not contaminated. There have been more instances of discolored water this spring than usual, but it’s no cause for alarm.

Water can become discolored when it washes out sediment deposits in pipes and water mains, especially when there is an increase in water flow or construction. Discoloration does not mean that the water is contaminated, just that it is tinted yellow and may contain rust and other particles.

“Usually the utility company flushes the system in a neighborhood and then all is well,” principal Alan Goodwin said in an email sent through Whitnet. WSSC stops further discoloration by opening up a fire hydrant to clear out the sediment until the water is clear again.

“To be clear, the water is not contaminated and is safe to drink,” Goodwin said.

For more information on water safety, click here.