Peabody Waits For Test Results On Smelly Water

PEABODY, MA -- An Indiana lab is expected to return test results on a sample of Peabody's water Thursday that will hopefully identify the cause of a foul-smelling odor in drinking water that has hit many residents, especially those living in Ward 5. The Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency sent the samples to Indiana earlier this week.

The EPA also said results from free chlorine tests will be available early next week, according to a Facebook post by Ward 5 City Councilor Joel Saslaw. In the meantime, Saslaw said, Peabody has been instructed to add copper sulfate to its reservoir to kill the algae bloom that is believed to be causing the problem, as well potassium permanganate to the water line to decrease odors.

"Also I am being told that there has been no bloom over the past 5-6 years," Saslaw said in his post.

Complaints about the odor started in February, but residents were told the water was safe to drink. Those complaints were renewed last week when the odor had still not disipated.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).