ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Robertsdale water customers who are still seeing a tinge of yellow in their tap water, relax.

Further testing has shown that the color is not caused by a “film” of bacteria and other substances taken off the pipes by the city’s new “Miox” water purification system, but by excess iron in the water system.

The Public Works department tried to remove the color by flushing the system, but when the problem proved difficult to solve, the city called in outside experts.

“The issue is iron,” City Engineer Greg Smith told the council.

According to a Web page from the Illinois Department of Public Health, iron in a water supply does not cause health problems, but makes the tap water look and taste bad and causes discoloration in cooked vegetables and laundry.

“We found a way to remove the iron from the water,” said Smith. The answer is familiar to anyone who took advanced chemistry.

“We have been testing several different polymers,” said Smith. A polymer is a long chain of molecules. The polymers in this case remove much of the iron from the water.

Two chemicals are being tested, and a new injector pump, which Smith estimates will cost less than $5,000 will be needed to remove the iron. Cost of the chemicals will be less than $14 per 500,000 gallons of water treated. Smith estimated that this will cost an additional $3,500 per year.

It was also said that the “new” water system will be used on the north end of the city, while the rest of the community will use water from the water towers. A series of valves will close off the systems, but will be tagged for quick opening should water from one system or the other be needed.

The council also approved a new “Wrecker Ordinance,” which establishes a “tier system” where properly licensed services with appropriate facilities in Robertsdale will be called first. The calls will go down a list with out-of-town wreckers called only when no one from the city can respond.

The council, with all members except Paul Hollingsworth present, also approved streetlights for the Palmer Place, Phase Two subdivision.

According to Smith, about 20 homes have been built or are under construction in the area of Krchak Lane. The city has accepted the roads, but one requirement slipped by — street lights. A request by a resident of the subdivision brought the matter to the city’s attention.

“We had a rough estimate of $13,000 for materials,” said Smith, who added that city officials met with the developer “about two or three weeks ago.”

The result of the meeting was that the developer would give $12,000 for the lights. The city will pay the rest. The deal is contingent on the $12,000 being paid by April 30.

In other council action:

— The council approved a request by the Public Works Department to purchase two “zero-turn” mowers. The money for the mowers will come in part from the cash raised from other surplus goods, including the sale of two mowers the department has that will not do the job.

“We were mowing until the first week of November,” said Public Works Director Scott Gibbs.

— Heard from County Commissioner Wayne Gruenloh about projects the county has undertaken in Robertsdale.