A Laurel Street resident who's lived in Garden City for less than a year approached the village board earlier this month with a bottle of discolored water. She explained to trustees that the "dirty" water she held before them came from her kitchen sink.

She's already had to purchase a new washing machine and even admitted to scolding her sons for forgetting to flush the toilet bowl. "When the lines are flushed, it's horrific," she said. "And days later, the water is completely discolored."

The resident finds the situation hard to believe since she received a report stating that water supplied by the village is in full compliance with all rigorous federal, state and local drinking water quality standards, according to a recently released 2003 annual water quality statement. As required by New York State, copies of the report were recently distributed to all customers within the utility's service area.

Robert Mangan, director of Garden City's Department of Public Works noted that the village is researching the problem on Laurel Street, explaining that the current water main is unlined. "A disruption could dirty the water," he said, adding that newer mains are lined with cement. Mangan also attributed the problem to iron deposits, which are not harmful but certainly not aesthetically pleasing.

Officials stated that the replacement of the main is in next year's capital program but trustee Robert Rothschild wants it done now - as an emergency item. Mangan told trustees he could get them an answer by the next board meeting, slated for Thursday, Sept. 9.

Trustee John Mauk, who believes three years is a long time to have to live with discolored water, suggested "if we can't solve it quickly, we should move up the schedule of replacing the line."