CARY, N.C. -- For the second time in as many weeks, there are water worries in Cary.

 

 

You may remember last week NBC17 told you about a water mix-up, when town officials realized that the lines for drinking water and reclaimed water had been switched at two new homes.

 

Reclaimed water is treated wastewater that customers can use to water their lawns, but isn't potable.

 

Now, two more homes are affected, and the town's reclaimed water service is shut off while they sort it out.

 

Town workers spent all day Thursday scouring three different neighborhoods, testing to make sure the water people are drinking is the water they're supposed to be drinking.

 

Crews are going house to house using what they call a conductivity meter, to check more than 500 different water sources.

 

"What we believe occurred is the colored lids, the color coded systems for the potable system as well as the reclaim system were switched," said Assistant Town Manager Ben Shivar.

 

He says they think it happened during recent construction -- but just to be safe, they're turning off all reclaimed water systems until they're sure.

 

"Well I think it's a good idea," said Ron Franklin, who lives in one of those neighborhoods.

 

Like a lot of his neighbors, Franklin says he's a little worried; but thinks he'd be able to tell if he was drinking reclaimed water, since he gave it a try back when they installed the system.

 

"I said, 'Well let me check it out,' And poured a little in my hand and tasted it and said 'Hmm, OK.' There was a difference."

 

Still, until they get that notice hanging from the front door saying they're water is OK, a lot of neighbors will still be a little worried.

 

"I just called this morning to make sure everything was OK with the water," said Cheri Sundaram. "That it was ok for us to use it and that it was safe."

 

Town officials say the reclaimed water does not meet drinking standards but so far, they don't think anyone has gotten sick from it. 

 

The town is paying the hotel bill for the family with the latest problem, while their tap water is fixed and tested again. That should be done within a day or two.