My Grand Rapids Water Tastes and Smells Funny. Should I be Worried?

I thought it was just me and my taste buds and nose, but others are talking about it too. Grand Rapids drinking water is tasting and smelling a bit funny. Why do you think? Is it safe to drink? Should we start buying bottled water? Should we run for the hills?

It's easy to forget, but this seems to happen around the same time every year and we get all flustered and worried.

So, what's up?

ALGAE BLOOM ON LAKE

It's Algae, an algae bloom in the lake, and it usually happens just about this time every year. Lake water temperature goes up and, poof, you get an algae bloom.

So, are we safe? Safe to drink? Water quality experts from Grand Rapids and Wyoming say yes, it is safe to drink.

GRAND RAPIDS LAKE MICHIGAN WATER FILTRATION PLANT

FILTRATION PROCESS AT GRAND RAPIDS LAKE MICHIGAN PLANT

I know, you feel as if you're drinking moldy bad breath water after eating fish! But our plants work hard to make sure we have good, safe, quality drinking water.

The City of Wyoming, who also get their water from Lake Michigan, issued this statement:

"When the algae is exposed to the treatment processes that make the water safe to drink, they can release compounds into the water. These compounds are NOT harmful, but they don't taste or smell good to some people."

 

This is a pretty cool video about the water system in Grand Rapids that should help you.

There are some other key things to remember. Whatever you do, don't allow children or pets to play in or drink water direct from the lake where algae or scum is present. Do not boat at high speeds, water-ski, or swim in areas of the lake where algae blooms are present. And, avoid direct contact with the lake water or sprinklers.

The treated water from our water treatment plants is safe, but certainly not the untreated water. Yuck!