Algal bloom in Lake Manatee causes funky taste in Manatee County drinking water
Manatee County residents may have noticed a funky taste in local drinking water, and authorities say it has been caused by an algal bloom in Lake Manatee.
The lake is the drinking water source for Manatee County, and a blue-green algae bloom has imparted a musty taste and odor to local drinking water. The water is safe to drink despite the taste, Manatee County officials said in a news release.
From the archive: Blue-green algal bloom in Lake Manatee leads to odd tasting water in Manatee County
More from last year: Algae bloom continues in Lake Manatee, but the funny taste in drinking water is gone
Can Manatee County treat the drinking water?
Blue-green algae are in bloom in Lake Manatee, and even though Manatee County treats the water before delivering it to customers, the taste and smell remain.
That is because levels of a compound produced by the algae, called geosmin, exceed the county's filtration capabilities. The county uses a drinking water treatment process that includes the use of powdered activated carbon to mitigate the geosmin levels. Residents can also use at-home drinking water filtration to improve the quality of the water.
“We will continue monitoring and conducting treatment efforts until water quality returns to normal,” said Manatee County Utilities Deputy Director Katie Gilmore. “It is our hope that by informing the public of this algal bloom, we can alleviate any concerns that may arise should a customer experience taste or odor issues in their drinking water.”
What do environmental advocates say about it?
Manasota-88 Chairman Glenn Compton said he is concerned that algae blooms in Lake Manatee will become more frequent, and eventually lead to higher utility rates imposed on residents to offset the costs of treatment.
"The problem that we have with algae blooms in Lake Manatee is caused by stormwater runoff that enters into the lake from agricultural activities, and also the urban development that has taken place," Manasota-88 Chairman Glenn Compton said. "It's becoming seasonal. It seems like we can expect it every year, which is a reflection of the poor land use decisions within the watershed that have been made in the past."
More from last year: Manatee County assures earthy tasting drinking water is safe to consume, despite concern
Compton said he does not know if compounds in the lake may be harmful for consumption, but said that odd tastes in water are at least cause for concern. Environmental advocates have raised concerns about the water quality since last year.
"Water is not supposed to taste, it's supposed to be tasteless, and anytime you have a flavor in the water you do have concerns about what is in it," Compton said.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Algal bloom causes funky taste in Manatee County drinking water
