Lightning leads to discolored water in Lone Tree

LONE TREE - Lone Tree residents are being advised to hold off on doing laundry while the community contends with discolored water.

Lone Tree Mayor Jonathan Green said the discoloration was caused by lightning that hit the water plant during a storm Saturday night. Green said lightning knocked out the plant's telemetry system, which caused the automation system to act as if the on-site reservoir was full. Pumps failed to turn on to replenish the reservoir, where the city drew its water from on Sunday.

'As we continued to draw down its level, sediment (iron, rust) was pulled into the system that normally settles at the bottom of the reservoir,” Green wrote in a letter to council members explaining the issue.

Green said residents and businesses throughout town were affected. Thirsty's Tree House, a tavern, closed its kitchen for the day. Green estimates he's received about 30 phone calls and another 30 texts about the discolored water.

Though the water is discolored, Green said it is safe. He said Lone Tree residents have just been asked to hold off on doing their laundry.

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