Seasonal algal bloom hits North Texas, makes water taste kinda funky

by Chad Jones

If your water has been tasting a little off lately, the North Texas Municipal Water District has an explanation.

Not provided by NTMWD

Some water sources are more questionable than others.

"The mid-summer "algal bloom" is the most common yearly occurrence in all surface water supplies," they say in a press release this morning, "which is responsible for the taste and odor changes in the water supply."

As a result of the winter algal bloom, an earthy or metallic taste and/or odor are noticeable in the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) water supply.

NTMWD suggests a few steps to combat the taste and odor. In a preemptive strike, laboratory personnel perform algal counts and can determine the onset of an algal bloom and add additional chemicals to the treatment process (Potassium permanganate acts as an oxidizing agent to mitigate the odor levels).

As for the taste, activated carbon is used as an absorption media. The NTMWD says each of these chemicals is removed during the treatment process, prior to delivery of the potable water supply.

They'd like to remind you that the quality of the water supply and its healthiness remains constant. "This is strictly a palatability issue," they say.