FERRIDAY —Ferriday residents have been dealing with brown-colored water for a few weeks, causing residents to wonder what is going to be done to fix it.

The Rev. Justin Conner of Ferriday said he is concerned with the latest water situation in Ferriday.

“It has been nearly three weeks and the water has been a brown, almost chocolate-colored water,” Conner said. “I don’t know what the problem is, but it is wrong and outlandish to have to suffer with the water we are having.”

Conner said the ongoing problem is something that needs resolution.

“Time after time we have had to battle this,” he said. “It’s a 20-year-old ordeal and people are suffering.”

Mayor Glen McGlothin of Ferriday said the tint in the water is something they know is there and there is nothing for citizens to be worried about.

“I have the same water as everyone else,” McGlothin said. “We have this same problem every year.”

McGlothin said it is the source from where they get the water that brings out the color.

“It has a tint to it because it is surface water,” he said. “It’s not pleasant to look at, but we have had people flushing the lines for the last two weeks. We are working on it. “

Water Superintendent Gregory Griggs said the problem is one of aesthetics, and not one of health.

“Everything is fine,” Griggs said. “When you flush the water it is going to have some color in it.”

Griggs said water plant employees have been working on the color problem in the water.

“We put potassium permanganate in the water, and it is a strong oxidizer,” he said. “After we put the potassium in, we disinfect the water with chlorine.”

Griggs said the chemicals oxidize in heat, causing the brown tint to appear.

“Heat will take oxygen out of water,” he said.

McGlothin said the heat from the summer months is causing the problems with the water’s color.

“We test the water every day,” McGlothin said. “We have an old water plant and that is why we are working on a new one.”

Conner said the chemicals are not sitting well with the water.

“You can go to any house in Ferriday and see the water,” he said. “We have a new tank with the same water source, and something needs to be done.”

Griggs said other than staining clothing washed in the water, the tint is nothing to worry about.

“We are constantly down here working on the water,” he said. “When we have a problem, we work on it.”