TV2: Musky smell in water causes concerns
October 13, 2011
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“It smells kind of like rotten eggs,” said Ravenna resident Kris Wilson. She notices
the smell in her water everyday. “We don’t even give it to the dog, he gets bottled
water.”
Ravenna residents have noticed a musky smell in the water coming through their
homes. Water plan officials have called it “lake turnover.”
“Lake turnover is a natural phenomenon where the higher level of water starts to
mix with the lower level close to our intake and it makes it a little more challenging
to treat,” explained Ravenna water plant superintendent Tim Stephens.
Stephens says that the turnover occurs every year in during the fall months and that
the decaying algae particles are the source of the odor. “Jasmine and M.I.B. cause a
pretty musky smell,” says Stephens.
But residents can’t help but think there is something wrong with the water.
Stephens assures that the water is safe to drink and that residents have nothing to
worry about.
“We treat it with powdered activated carbon, which absorbs the algae particles in
the water,” Stephens explained. “A lot of cities that have surface water are going
through this, especially small lakes where it flourishes a little more than say the
Cleveland plants out in Lake Erie.”
Ravenna service director Kelly Engelhart gave a few tips on how residents can
take care of their water at this time.
“Run your water longer and then put it in
refrigerated containers in the refrigerator is part of the solution,” said Engelhart, “as
well as us adjusting how we treat it with the carbon.”
The problem is supposed to go away as the end of October rolls in and with it the
cold. Hopefully residents won’t have to deal with the smell for long.
Contact Loren Thomas at [email protected].