After months of discolored water, the City Council last night requested the Water Department to issue a report explaining what action it will take to cure Cambridge's perennial water woes.

Councillors said the yellowish-brown water, which has effected Harvard dorms, "causes people great distress" and paraded out dirty filters coated in black grime from the city's reservoirs.

"They've lived in cities across the world and they have never had black, blue, green or yellow water," said Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves '72. Reeves said that upset Cantabridgians have left jars of discolored water on his doorstep.

"This is not normal; it doesn't happen anywhere else," said Reeves.

Cambridge Water Department Superintendent Nancy E. Barnes said in a report to City Manager Robert W. Healy that the discoloration is caused by the presence of manganese in the water.

Healy said that the water is completely safe but is "unsightly."

In warmer temperatures manganese is present near the surface of the Fresh Pond reservoir, Healy said. But when the temperature drops suddenly, manganese sinks to the bottom of the reservoir and is pumped into the city's water pipes.

But councillors complained that both the issue and possible solutions are discussed each year without resolution.

"I am now starting to get increasingly frustrated," said Councillor Edward N. Cyr. "My daughter said three weeks ago, 'That water is dirty, I can't get in the bath."'

"Certain garments of mine have certainly suffered for it," said Coun- cillor Alice K. Wolf.

Reeves requested that the Water Departmentissue a report explaining the problem and plansfor rehabilitation of the aeration, or filtration,system.

In addition to water discoloration, the Councildiscussed a motion to increase the price ofCambridge parking permits in order to increaserevenue and reduce city traffic.

They also considered recent changes to the 707Subsidy Program, a tenant fund which provideshousing for the poor.

Members of the Cambridge Tenants Unioncontinued their protest of indicted CouncillorWilliam H. Walsh

The protestors plastered the Sullivan Chamberswalls with signs reading "Walsh: Condo Artist" and"Billy Took Our Money," referring to Walsh'srecent indictment