Four days after a broken pipe flooded several offices at the sheriff's department, employees had to deal with a drinking water scare Tuesday.

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Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff

Secretary Roberta Thompkins works at a makeshift desk in the breezeway on the sheriff's department's second floor. Thompkins' office was affected by the water leak Friday. The city has millions set aside for a new sheriff's headquarters.

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Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff

A sign on a restroom advises people not to drink or use the water at the sheriff's office.

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Coffee pots and cups stayed empty throughout the usually well-caffeinated offices of the department's Criminal Investigative Division because of fears caused by bad-smelling, greenish-blue water coming from the taps.

Chief Deputy Sid Hatfield said he noticed problems with the water on Monday. Shortly after lunch, water in the administrative break room began to emit a "foul odor."

"I have no idea what that was, but I know it's not the normal smell of water," said Hatfield, who posted notices warning employees not to drink the water.

City utilities department workers tested water from different parts of the building and found the problem apparently was isolated to CID, administration and the downstairs jail administration areas.

Hatfield said he was told copper corrosion in the building's pipes caused the smell and the bluish color.

Last week, a broken pipe overflowed a spill tray in the ceiling and soaked three offices and hundreds of paychecks and W-2 forms.

Computers and furniture were also damaged. Since then, employees have been working at makeshift offices in the main hallway while crews work to replace the carpet and repaint the walls.

Hatfield said about 800 files have been moved and now need to be inspected for damage.