Water, who needs it?
California is dealing
with drought. California is dealing with
ineffective regulators in the oil and gas industry, resulting in losing even more of the little water it has. California's had some
strange local water problems. Those water problems are
becoming more prevalent.
“It’s very metallic ... almost minerally,” said Justin Lagana-Jackson, a resident of Oakland’s Laurel district, who was caught by surprise when he tried to slake his thirst from a garden hose while doing yard work on Sunday night.
[...]
It turns out the taste, and a foul odor associated with it, comes from algae in the Pardee Reservoir, which supplies most of the drinking water for East Bay Municipal Utility District customers. The good news is that it’s safe to drink, said Abby Figueroa, an EBMUD spokeswoman. The district continually tests for contaminants that derive from toxic algae, and so far it hasn’t found any, said EBMUD Director Andy Katz.
Good news! You can drink it! Unfortunately, it may taste like this on and off, for a long time. EBMUS says that the "sour water" is the result of drawing from higher up in the reservoir. The reason for this is that they need to preserve colder, downstream water for salmon in the Mokelumne River. This is part of a 1998 settlement/agreement between EBMUD, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game. According to their 10-year report,
the goals of this agreement are:
- Provide, to the extent feasible, habitat quality and availability in the lower Mokelumne River to maintain fishery, wildlife and riparian resources in good condition
- Contribute towards the state and federal fishery restoration goals as defined in the California Salmon, Steelhead Trout and Anadromous Fisheries Program Act and the Central Valley Project Improvement Act
- Sustain the long-term viability of the salmon and steelhead fishery while protecting the genetic diversity of naturally producing populations in the lower Mokelumne River
The higher and warmer water has more algae in it. After treatment the bad taste and
smell usually remains.
Shortly after that supply began cycling through treatment plants last week, EBMUD faced a deluge of calls from irritated customers in the affected areas: Oakland, Piedmont, Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville, El Cerrito, Albany, Kensington, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Moraga, Alamo, Danville, Diablo, Blackhawk, San Ramon and Orinda. The water district serves many more residents in East Bay cities that were not affected.
Residents posted colorful descriptions of the new tap water on social media, characterizing it as “dirty and soapy” and “hella weird.”
If this drought persists, investments in better filtration (for taste and smell) may become new policy positions. Either way, sour and stinky with a touch of "hella weird" is the new normal—for now.