Algae On Fox River Causes Taste, Odor Issues For Elgin Tap Water
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A foul smell and taste in the water in Elgin should be gone in the next couple days.
Elgin Water Department director Kyla Jacobsen said algae blooms on the Fox River can cause a musty smell and taste to the city's tap water. When it does, it usually lasts two to ten days. The latest instance has lasted eight days.
"When we get algae blooms on the river; that creates these musty, moldy tastes and odors. We have to add more chemicals. We have to add more carbon; additional treatments to the water to help combat that," she said.
Jacobsen said the water might taste or smell bad, but it's perfectly safe to drink.
"The last time we had what I would call an outbreak where people actually noticed it in the distribution system was in May of 2013," she said.
The taste and odor issues are an intermittent problem the department has seen for decades. Jacbosen said officials work quickly to rectify the problem when algae growth on the water does affect the taste or smell of tap water in Elgin.