Several residents in Washington Heights reported seeing brown water again in their homes Thursday, Jan. 28. 2016. View Full Caption Twitter/@alexlifshin

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — That's one way to get your minerals.

Frustrated locals again found brown water pouring from their faucets this week — though city officials equated drinking the stinky, discolored discharge to taking iron supplements.

The Department of Environmental Protection shut down water service in the vicinity of 181st Street on Thursday night, stirring up "small, fine pieces of iron" that made their way into residents' homes, officials said.

The issue occurred a week after locals reported seeing brown water, due to another water shutdown at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, DEP officials said.

Agency spokesman Edward Timbers stressed that the water is not harmful — despite residents noting its unpleasant smell — and suggested the rust-colored contents were like "iron supplements that a lot of people take."

The reappearance of the water didn't sit well with residents who just had to deal with the problem last week.

So we have brown water in Washington Heights AGAIN @nyc311 @NYCWater @BilldeBlasio Smells foul VERY dirty! pic.twitter.com/x7VX1CMOI6 — Alexandra Lifshin (@alexlifshin) January 29, 2016

Timbers said that when the pressurized water system is shut down, the water that has been flowing in one direction for many years or decades is reversed, causing the iron sediments to be stirred into the supply.

The shutdowns usually last approximately 20 minutes, he noted.

Although the agency notified several management offices and posted signs on building doors, some residents were left in the dark.

DEP plans to continue with maintenance work and water shutdowns in Washington Heights, although they didn't specify how often or when the shutdowns would take place, Timbers said.

He added that the agency would continue to inform residents via notices on building doors, as well as post updates on the DEP's Twitter and Facebook accounts.

As of Friday afternoon, residents said the water was slowly returning back to normal.

In the meantime, Timber suggested residents continue to run their water until it's clear and cold if they notice any discoloration.

They should also report the discoloration to 311, since DEP is closely monitoring these calls and complaints shortly after the shutdowns, he said.