A water main break in Tauranga’s city center this morning has caused discolored water in homes and businesses from the city center to Greerton.

The discoloration is caused by naturally occurring iron and manganese deposited inside the pipes and disrupted by the flow, a Tauranga City Council spokesperson said in a statement.

“The water is safe to drink, but discolored water may take some time to seep into the system.

“Our advice to residents experiencing water discoloration is to flush their outdoor taps for 5-10 minutes and call us on 07 577 7000 if the problem persists.

“We thank the community for their patience.”