Despite some discoloration in the water in Webster and in surrounding areas, including La Porte and Pasadena on Monday, authorities assured residents that it is still safe to drink.
The discoloration that gave the water a greenish tint was the result of heavy rainfall from last week's Tropical Storm Edouard, according to the Clear Lake Water Authority and the city on social media.
The rainfall in the Trinity River Basin area made the city's raw water supply appear murkier, even as the water treatment process continued to function effectively. The level of water clarity, called turbidity, can be affected by a variety of factors, including runoff caused by weather events, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. High turbidity means the water will be cloudier. City of Webster and Clear Lake water officials said naturally occurring minerals in the water made it appear green or yellow in certain areas of the water distribution system.
Members of a League City area Facebook group reported that residents in that city and surrounding cities like Pasadena, Deer Park and La Porte were also seeing green in the water.
The water authority and city continued to monitor the quality of the drinking water and said that it was safe to drink and met or exceeded state regulatory standards, according to the water authority's post.
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This article originally published at Green water concerns emerge in greater Houston's Clear Lake area. Officials say it is safe to drink.