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Posted: July 18, 2006
You know it’s the doldrums of summer when you live near a lake and your water starts tasting or smelling a little strange. Whether you live on the coast, in central Missouri or in sunny California, once the weather consistently hits the 90-100 mark, you can bet algal bloom isn’t far behind!
In Plano, as in any area where lake water is the drinking water source, lake algae will begin to “bloom” when the water stays warm and turbidity (water cloudiness) clears due to lack of rain. This, combined with other factors, lets the bottom algae bloom and grow, excreting an oily substance that often creates a strange taste or odor in the water. While unpleasant, the quality of the water remains unchanged and Plano’s water supply retains its “superior” rating, being perfectly safe to drink.
Persons sensitive to water taste and odor may notice a change in Plano’s treated water supply, an annual occurrence this time of the year.
Occurring in all surface water supplies, mid-summer heat spawns an “algal bloom” which permeates the water with an oily substance that is secreted as algal species, such as anabaena, “bloom,” creating an earthy taste in the water.
“This event does not change the quality of the water supply,” said North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) Public Relations Coordinator Denise Hickey. “It is strictly a palatability issue.”
The annual summer algal bloom usually occurs in late July and into August of each year when water temperatures consistently remain in the 80-85 degree range. NTMWD, who furnishes Plano treated water from Lake Lavon, utilizes several steps to control water taste and odor from the blooms.
These include adding potassium permanganate to oxidize and reduce odor levels and activated carbon as an absorption media. Each of these chemicals is removed during the treatment process prior to delivery of the potable water supply. Chlorine also aids in odor reduction.
The bloom normally subsides after 3-5 weeks. While inconvenient and unpleasant to some, there are no health hazards created regardless of taste and odor.
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