Summer’s warmer temperatures provide an excellent breeding ground for algal blooms in source water reservoirs. The molecules from these algal blooms can release a swampy or earthy taste and odor into the water. Despite the undesirable taste and odor, the water is still safe to drink.
Greeley staff strives to detect algal blooms early by conducting weekly tests during peak algal bloom months and monitoring source water conditions for early indicators of algal growth. The city uses an aeration system near the Boyd Lake water intake to encourage water circulation and oxygenation, which reduces the release of nutrients from the lake sediment into the water column. Reducing the amount of nutrients in the water and promoting water circulation limits algae growth and can lessen the frequency and scale of algal blooms.
Michaela Jackson is the Water Quality and Regulatory Compliance Manager for the City of Greeley. Her team knows where algal blooms thrive so they can stay one step ahead.
“We know where algal blooms are most likely to occur in our source water system due to water quality monitoring, operations, and hydrology,” she said. “Algae can enter a phase of excessive growth if they receive sufficient nutrients. Runoff from wildfire burn scars can contribute additional nutrients to the source water, which supports larger and more frequent blooms.”
However, due to the dynamic nature of algal blooms, we aren’t always able to catch these compounds before they enter distribution system. Once that happens, customers may detect an earthy taste or odor in their tap water. They should call the Water Taste and Odor hotline at 970-336-4097 or send an email to waterquality@greeleygov.com.
Greeley staff responds immediately to reports of undesired tastes and odors in Greeley’s water. Greeley’s two water treatment plants at Bellvue and Boyd Lake add powdered activated carbon to remove undesirable taste and odor compounds from the water during treatment.
The water quality team appreciates customer feedback on undesirable tastes and odors in the water because it helps staff track how long it takes to remove compounds from the system.
“When water demand is high and the concentrations of these compounds are low, they can be gone in a few days,” Jackson said, “When concentrations are higher, however, it can sometimes take a week for the taste and odor to clear out from the distribution system.”
Customers can lessen the taste and odor of their water:
Refrigerate the water. Taste and odors start to go away as water cools.
Add some lemon to counteract the undesirable taste or odor.
Water filters that use activated charcoal can remove the undesirable taste and odor.
It’s important to remember that the water is safe to drink.
Customers may also occasionally encounter other tastes and odors like metal, chlorine, or rotten eggs in their water. These are not normally associated with algal blooms. Customers should notify the water quality team at 970-336-4097 or waterquality@greeleygov.com.