A news release from the City on Wednesday said the Water Treatment Plant collected water samples for further testing, after receiving reports from residents of a ‘slight earthy or musty odour when running cold water from their taps.’
“Based on the results to date, the City can confirm that the water remains safe to drink,” read the release.
The City said the reported odour is consistent with naturally occurring compounds in the source water, but the specific cause has not yet been confirmed. Additional testing is underway.
“Based on testing and monitoring completed to date, the reported odour does not affect the safety of the water.”
Water Treatment Manager Rinkesh Patil said, “Conditions in the river have improved in August, but they remain outside what we consider normal for this time of year. Despite more challenging source-water conditions, our multi-barrier treatment system continues to effectively treat the water.”
But complaints from residents have continued through the summer, with many frustrated about the unpleasant taste and smell. One resident said the water had discoloured their bathtub, while another said they were surprised the water issues were still occurring in the middle of summer.
At the Purified Water Store in Prince Albert, owner Melissa Phillips said she has noticed more new customers since the issues began. Some have told her they’re avoiding the use of tap water for drinking or cooking, despite it being safe to do so.
The water quality has also affected her own operations.
“I’ve had to replace filters sooner than normally expected,” Phillips said of her purifying equipment.
She estimates the filters needed replacing about eight weeks before they normally would.
The latest update from the City did not indicate whether changes have or could be made to the treatment process specifically to address taste and odour concerns.
Helen Baulch from the University of Saskatchewan School of Environment and Sustainability and Global Institute for Water Security explained colour and odour are often considered ‘aesthetic objectives.’
“So, [they] do not reflect direct health risks. At the same time, they can affect peoples’ trust in drinking water,” she said, adding if people find the water unappealing, they may shift to bottled water.
With climate change impacts, she said there are more new problems affecting water utilities, and they take time and money to solve.
“The challenge can be that when new problems pop up, the treatment systems may not be designed to fully address them.”
The City has previously said the treatment processes are adjusted as river conditions change and that water quality is tested by certified operators and independently verified through accredited laboratories.
For residents, however, the assurances about safety have not eliminated concerns about the water coming from their taps.
One resident described the smell as “horrific” and said they were “sick of this.”
The City continues to ask residents experiencing problems to report them through its Report a Concern portal using the keyword “WATER – Water Condition,” or by calling the Solutions Hub at 306-953-4884.
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*Editors note: This story was updated Wednesday evening to include new comments from the City of Prince Albert.
panews@pattisonmedia.com