Other: Water tastes terrible and has tasted terrible for around 2 weeks. Filtered water luckily still tastes okay. But at all the taps other than where I have a filter, it is so bad that I am not sure it is safe to brush my teeth with it. This seems especially crazy when the water rates are way higher than they were some years ago--back when I moved to Bloomington the water tasted very good, and the cost was far lower. But then we have allowed a great deal of expansion and probably the utility companies just can't handle it all? At least SOME explanation is needed for the terrible taste of the water.
We apologize for the taste and odor issues experienced in September and October. Tyler Steury CBU Water Quality 812-349-3655
Marcia, I apologize for the unpleasant taste and odor we’re currently experiencing with our drinking water. Unfortunately this is a system wide issue. The warm and dry weather earlier this month has resulted in an increase in algae from Lake Monroe producing geosmin and methylisoborneol (MIB), which cause taste and odor issues with the drinking water. Our treatment system is able to control and filter the algae itself, but the compounds they produce in the lake are very difficult to control in a conventional water treatment plant, and so at times they persist after treatment. These compounds are not a health concern, they are an aesthetic issue which is not uncommon for communities using lakes as their water source. There are certain steps we've taken to try to eliminate the issue, such as increasing the amount of powdered activated carbon and copper sulfate that we add to the water to control algae and help with taste and odor issues. However we do not want to add more chemicals to our water than is absolutely necessary so this has been a slow and methodical process. We’re continually testing the water for many different quality parameters in multiple sites in our distribution system and at our water treatment plant to ensure the water continues to be safe to drink. Partially due to the recent cool and wet weather, along with the treatment measures we’re taking, at this time geosmin and MIB levels have decreased substantially at the water treatment plant and no taste or odor is being detected. However, it takes up to a week for the water to travel from the treatment plant throughout the distribution system. Your water should be free of taste and odor within the next week. I apologize for this inconvenience. You are welcome to call or email with any questions. Tyler Steury City of Bloomington Utilities Water Quality Coordinator steuryt@bloomington.in.gov (812) 349-3655 office (812) 361-7774 cell