Beware the Stink, But It's Safe to Drink

Get ready to break out the Sparkletts or add a slice of lemon to what comes out of the faucet. Local tap water could have a musty taste and odor for the next few weeks, officials said.

The new flavor poses no health hazards but could persist for weeks in portions of Southern California, including Orange County, according to the Metropolitan Water District. The impact might vary from region to region, as water districts blend imported Metropolitan water with local supplies.

"The earthy taste and smell stem from an especially large and persistent algae bloom in the east branch of the State Water Project,'' said Jim Green, MWD's manager of water system operations.

"We are working with the state Department of Water Resources, which owns and operates the state system, to address the situation,'' Green told City News Service. "Consumers, however, can be assured that the taste-and-odor issues they may be experiencing in their tap water do not pose any health risks.''

Green suggested refrigerating drinking water to help improve its taste until the problem diminishes, which he cautioned might be take several weeks.

For the third time in three weeks, DWR water quality experts Thursday applied copper sulfate to control the algae bloom. Officials stressed that the treated water is safe for consumers as well as boaters and swimmers at Silverwood and downstream at Lake Perris. Fish and wildlife also will not be affected.

Metropolitan also has reduced deliveries from Silverwood Lake, which
supplies the district's F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant in La Verne and
Robert B. Diemer plant in Yorba Linda, which together provide treated drinking
water to about 7 million people in the affected areas.

According to Metropolitan, the cause has been identified as 2-methylisoborneal, or MIB, a compound produced from the growth of certain algae in freshwaters throughout the world. Typically, MIB levels increase when warmer weather accelerates the growth of algae, Green said.

"Unfortunately, MIB is a noticeable needle in the haystack,'' he said. "People with sensitive taste and smell can detect the compound in water levels as low as 5 parts-per-trillion. However, water from two treatment plants have experienced MIB concentrations as high as 20 parts-per-trillion. By comparison, one part-per-trillion is equivalent to just 10 drops of MIB in enough water to fill the Rose Bowl.''

The Municipal Water District of Orange County, which helps quench the thirst of most OC cities (except Anaheim, Fullerton and Santa Ana) is one of the agencies affected. Others include the city of Pasadena, Foothill Municipal Water District, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Three Valleys Municipal Water District in eastern Los Angeles County; the Inland Valley Utilities Agency and Cucamonga Valley Water District in western San Bernardino County; and the Eastern Municipal Water District in western Riverside County.