SINGAPORE - Retired trader Tong Chan Fui, 74, was looking forward to a hot bath after a long day at about 9.30pm on Thursday evening.

But when he turned on the tap, a stream of muddy, rust-coloured water sprinkled through the faucet instead.

"I called (national water agency) PUB immediately, and they said they would send over some potable water. But the clean water came only at about 11pm," Mr Tong told The Straits Times. While waiting, Mr Tong added that he ran the tap for over one hour in the hope that the water would clear up, but it didn't.

The Katong resident was just one of many residents and businesses in some parts of eastern Singapore who had brown, muddy water flowing out of their taps on Thursday night.

He later found out that this was due to a leaking water pipe, and the works that PUB had undertaken to repair the leak on an 800mm diameter water pipe along Still Road.

By Friday morning, the water flowing through the taps had cleared up.

Those living and working in areas such as Duku Road, Still Road, Lorong L, M and N Telok Kurau, Lorong Stangee, Lorong Nangka, Joo Chiat Road and Koon Seng Road were affected.

"The discoloured water was due to re-suspension of mineral sediments in the pipe," said a spokesman from PUB on Thursday night.

"PUB carried out flushing to the network and the water has cleared up."

To isolate the leak, work was carried out from 6pm on Thursday and two of the three lanes along Still Road, at the junction of Changi Road, were closed to facilitate the pipe repair works.

The PUB advised customers who still experience discoloured water to run their taps until the water is clear before use.

It added that PUB water wagons are on standby to provide water bags to affected customers.

Those who need assistance can call PUB at 1800-284 6600.