RALEIGH — The water at N.C. State University’s main campus has been declared safe to drink again following a contamination scare that began Wednesday afternoon.

According to a statement released on the university’s website, “officials have determined that water is safe for drinking and cooking on all areas of the NC State campus.”

NCSU officials had warned people not to drink or cook with tap water on the main campus after receiving complaints about a strange odor emanating from water in three areas. The warning affected all buildings in an area bordered by Western Boulevard, Hillsborough Street, Pullen Road and Method Road.

The university contacted the city about the odor complaints on Wednesday afternoon, said Whit Wheeler, the city’s assistant public utilities director. The city did not find any problems with the water, Wheeler said.

“Everything is in compliance with EPA drinking water standards,” he said.

Environmental Conservation Laboratories, a private laboratory based in Cary, also ran tests on the university’s water.

Wheeler said NCSU, like most of the city, gets its water primarily from Falls Lake. The city’s EMJ Water Treatment Plant tests Falls Lake for impurities on a daily basis, he said, so the problem likely didn’t originate from the source.

Although the water passed inspection, people on campus should expect “cloudiness” in the water for the next few days. The cloudiness, or turbidity, is the result of the campus flushing the water system.

“It’s perfectly safe,” said Wheeler. “It’s not unusual when flushing a pipe network.”

Stephens: 919-829-4563