It may look gross, but the Kennebec Water District says that the rusty and discolored water some Waterville area residents are experiencing is safe to use.

One resident shared shared photos of the water on his Facebook page.

The water district said the discolored water came from "break in a large water line that crosses the Messalonskee Stream. Because the break was underwater, a significant volume of water was lost before the location of the break was discovered and the water line was shut off."

"The Kennebec Water District is aware that many customers are experiencing rusty and discolored water. We apologize for this disruption in the normal high-quality service we provide," said the district in a statement on its website. Our employees are working to address this situation. Although the water looks dirty, we are confident that the water discoloration is not a safety issue."

The water district statement said the problem could go on for a while, though they are working on a fix. "Unfortunately, there is no quick solution to a disruption of water quality of this magnitude. Our Operations staff has taken steps to draw clearer water from our treatment facility in Vassalboro into the distribution system and our Water Quality staff are monitoring disinfection and bacteria levels to ensure your safety," the statement said.

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