AUSTIN, Texas — Some Austin Water customers have been reporting taste and smell issues from their drinking water, but Austin Water and water treatment experts say it is still safe to drink.
The utility company said there are a few factors that could be making the water taste and smell odd, including changes with the source water and one of Austin Water's carbon feed systems needing repair last week.
Retired UT Austin Professor Desmond Lawler, who has studied drinking water and wastewater treatment, said any environmental changes to the Colorado River, the city's water source, will affect drinking water.
"The water quality does change throughout the year, particularly with respect to things that could cause taste and odor, which are basically various natural organic compounds," Lawler said.
Lawler said the natural compounds that get filtered out of the water, like algae and decaying leaves, could have an effect on taste.
"The decaying of leaves and things like that that maybe have accumulated in the bottom of the lake would increase, with the increase in temperature, and that would cause a change in the taste and perhaps odor as well," Lawler said.
Since the reports of taste and odor issues, Austin Water has been adding more powdered activated carbon to its treated water. The powdered activated carbon is designed to filter out any organic matter that would make the water taste and smell bad. Before 2020, Austin Water used to only do this process seasonally, but since then, it has been doing it year-round whenever needed, which typically means they add more in the summertime.
"We're feeding as much powdered activated carbon right now as as we typically do, and we will continue to go up if we need to," said Shay Ralls Roalson, director of Austin Water.
Austin Water said that adding the carbon should fix the taste and smell issues within the next few days. The company also said it is helpful when customers call in with their issues so it can see where adjustments might need to be made, or if any additional flushing of the distribution system needs to be done.
To report any issues, customers can call Austin Water's 24-hour Emergency Dispatch line at 512-972-1000.