EAST BAY — East Bay residents may notice an earthy odor in the taste and smell of their tap water due to changes in the way water is collected because of California’s drought, East Bay Municipal Utility District officials said today.
The change in taste comes from algae blooms in warmer water closer to the surface of the Pardee Reservoir. The algae are filtered before the water is distributed, but might leave some residual odor or flavor, according to EBMUD.
The district typically draws colder water from deeper in the reservoir, but it is required by state and federal law to set some of that colder water aside to release into the river later in the year for returning salmon.
A low water level in the reservoir has necessitated drawing water from a higher valve to preserve the colder water, EBMUD officials said.
EBMUD will make the change in the collection process on Sunday.
The district already made the same change in late March, prompting some concern over the odd taste and smell. EBMUD quickly switched the collection process back, but assured customers the water was safe to drink.
Not all customers will be affected by the change. Some EBMUD customers get their water from the San Pablo and Upper San Leandro reservoirs in the East Bay hills. The district is in the process of bolstering those reserves with water from the Sacramento River purchased through a federal contract.
Water from those reservoirs currently serves about a third of EBMUD customers, district officials said.
But the remaining customers might notice a change in taste, odor or both. Not everyone will notice the change, and some may only notice it when the water is heated, like in the shower, according to the district.
To improve the taste and smell of the water, the district recommends using a carbon filter or simply chilling the water before drinking.