Mount Pleasant Waterworks: Water Company & Public Water Utility in South Carolina - Residential Water Services - Pub Detail

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--Press Room

April 17, 2008

Earthy/musty taste and smell not harmful, just a nuisance

April 17, 2008 -- Each year about this time, the warm Spring temperatures bring us flowering plants, allergies—and earthy tasting tap water. Mount Pleasant Waterworks receives a portion of our water supply from Charleston Water System. Charleston Water System’s Hanahan Water Treatment Plant draws most of its water from the Bushy Park Reservoir, where springtime algae are flourishing and give the water a distinctive earthy/musty taste and smell.

The unpleasant taste is not harmful, but it is difficult to remove. Doing so requires adding activated carbon to the water, which adsorbs the compounds responsible for the unpleasant taste and odor. Some people are more sensitive to tastes than others, so even with the additional treatment efforts, some may still detect a slight taste or smell.

"This is a natural occurrence that's common this time of year," explains Harvey Wilkins of SC DHEC's Environmental Quality Control office. "It's an aesthetic issue, but people are understandably concerned when their water tastes different. We just want to assure the public that the water is safe to drink."

Springtime taste and odor is a common occurrence for water utilities that use surface water as their source, and it typically subsides as the seasons change.

Mount Pleasant Waterworks is working closely with Charleston Water System and continuing to monitor the situation for our customers. If you have additional questions please call our Customer Service Department at 884-9626.