Algae Blooms Responsible for Odd Taste in East Bay Municipal Utility District Water

East Bay Municipal Utility District customers noticed an unusual taste and odor in their water over the weekend, following a shift in water supply operations made in response to the drought, EBMUD officials said Tuesday.

A greater presence of algae blooms caused the change in taste, but the algae was filtered out before reaching customers and the water continued to meet all health standards, according to the district. Most water delivered by EBMUD comes from the Pardee Reservoir in the Sierra foothills.

The water district is required to preserve cold water deep in the reservoir to release later in the year for returning salmon, EMBUD officials said. Because of that, the district switched on Saturday to pulling warmer water from higher in the reservoir. Such water has more algae than water deeper in the reservoir, EBMUD officials said.

While the algae is filtered at the district’s treatment plants, taste and odors from it can be left behind in the water. It is not dangerous and the water continued to meet all state and federal health standards, EBMUD officials said.

The district switched back to taking water from deeper in the reservoir on Monday to consider ways to eliminate the unusual taste and odor. EBMUD customers may notice more changes to tap water for the rest of the week, according to the district.

Chilling the water or running it through a carbon filter can also help reduce unpleasant tastes and odors.

By Bay City News

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