Funny tasting water originating from Patoka Lake

The City of Huntingburg Water Department is aware of a taste and odor issue in the drinking water.

Treatment operators have been actively collecting and testing water samples since the problem first arose, starting around the beginning of the week.

The source has been determined to be originating from Patoka Lake Regional Water. The City purchases 50% of its drinking water from Patoka Lake.

City water department officials went to Patoka Lake yesterday for a meeting and have spoken with them again this morning. Patoka Lake has posted a cautionary “taste and odor” notice on their website explaining what has happened (http://www.plrws.net/).

According to the website the musty taste and odor is due to the occurrence of an algal bloom in their source water and “The water supply remains safe for use with no health risks created by these events.”

Speaking with Patoka Lake management, they have stated that they first noticed the problem on September 21 and immediately started specialized equipment to destroy the taste and odors, however an unknown quantity of that water had already entered their distribution system.

The City of Huntingburg is currently flushing hydrants which will help to “flush” our system and alleviate some of the taste and odors.

The water produced at the Huntingburg water treatment plant does not have the issues with taste and odor. Water treatment operators are presently working around the clock trying to lessen our use of Patoka lake water in order to utilize more City of Huntingburg water.