The drinking water for Hopkins area residents affected by a broken water main earlier this month is safe to consume despite its temporary milky or cloudy appearance.

Air in the water lines is causing the condition which will dissipate within a few weeks, the Richland County Utilities Department stated Tuesday. Residents along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the area affected by the earlier water main break, no longer have to take precautions to ensure their drinking water is free of contaminants.

A boil water advisory was lifted Sept. 4 after both the Richland County Utilities Department and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reviewed test results of water samples from the area and determined it was safe for consumption.

If residents have questions, they may call the county utilities office at (803) 401-0050.