North County : Algae Adds Unpleasant Odor to Tap Water

Seasonal algae blooms in a storage reservoir have caused tap water in some areas of the county to have an unpleasant odor, although it is still safe to drink, a Metropolitan Water District spokesman said Friday.

Residents in Placentia, Yorba Linda, Anaheim and Tustin already may have noticed the “musty and earthy” smell of the water supplied from the Lake Mathews reservoir in Riverside County, said MWD spokesman Tim Skrove.

“It is not a health hazard, just an aesthetic problem,” Skrove said.

The water district began monitoring levels of the algae-produced compound in July, using barges and helicopters to drop chemicals to kill the algae. In addition, water was selectively drawn from deeper parts of the lake to minimize the concentration of the compound. But as the lake’s water level dropped, that became impossible, Skrove said.

Cities using water treatment plants that are able to blend the Lake Mathews water with other supplies may not notice the change in smell, Skrove said.

The problem could be cleared up in the next two weeks, he said.