City Streetlights in Smithville Turning Purple

October 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

If you have noticed purple streetlights lately in Smithville, its not your imagination and it’s not for Halloween.

Streetlights across town are turning from white to purple and it’s been gradually occurring for some time. Its apparently due to a manufacturing defect.

Smithville Electric System is aware of the situation and is working toward having the lights replaced.

“We started putting them (LED white lights) up three or four years ago as a city-wide project and over time this has happened (lights changing to purple),” said SES Manager Richie Knowles.

“The type of LED lights we bought, American Electric are actually purple and covered with phosphorus which makes them white. They (manufacturer) had a bad run of phosphorous and that phosphorous is falling off the LEDs and that is what you are seeing as these lights are turning purple. They kind of work like a black light and they actually put out more illumination on the ground being purple than they do white. They just look funny,” he said.

“There is a recall on the lights, and they have a warranty on them so we will get them replaced. We are working with the company to do that but because of the supply chain there is a delay in the delivery of the lights,” added Knowles.

WJLE Radio