Beginning Monday, May 16th, the City of Newport Water Distribution Division will begin
mandatory testing of water line pressures, requiring the opening of fire hydrants.
Newport residents in some areas of town will probably experience some “brown water”
issues continuing for about two days. The color is due to a harmless sediment that
normally lies dormant in the water mains but gets stirred up when large amounts of
water are pushed through the lines at higher-than-normal flow rates.

If you are experiencing brown water during this testing phase, please be advised the
water is safe to drink if needed. You may want to stock up on some bottled water; also,
water is available at no charge at the city shops and city hall if you want to fill containers.
Additionally, we advise against doing any laundry during this time. Once the testing is
completed, you can flush your water lines by opening the cold water taps in your house
and the hose bibs in your yard for about 15 minutes or until the water runs clear.