Why Does The Public Water Supply In Tyler Taste So Earthy?

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This is currently happening in Tyler, Texas. When you go to the kitchen faucet or refrigerator and put that glass up under the spicket to quench your thirst for calorie-free cold water, it could have a weird 'earthy' taste and odor to it. At first, it could definitely be off-putting and weird leaving you not wanting to quench your thirst.

That 'earthy' taste and odor from emanating from your glass of water is 100% safe to consume. It's a naturally occurring event that happens every year and Tyler Water Utilities is aware of the issue and adding more additives to the water supply to combat this issue.

What Causes The Water Supply To Taste 'Earthy'?

The cause of the odor and taste originates from the water supply intake from Lake Palestine. It is a spike in Geosmin, a non-toxic compound that is safe to consume. Tyler Water Utilities says this compound is naturally present in foods like beets, spinach and mushrooms. The levels of Geosmin in Lake Palestine increase during colder months. Tyler Water Utilities is combatting this by adding the maximum amount of Ozone and PAC (powdered activated carbon) at the Lake Palestine Water Treatment Plant.

The city says, via a press release,

TWU typically removes 95% of the compound from the water supply through the normal treatment process and is treated for year-round.

The Water In Tyler Is Still Safe To Drink

The public water supply is continuously monitored and tested to comply with and exceed the requirements set forth by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. If you experience a strong 'earthy' taste and odor, you can call the Water Service Center in Tyler at 903.531.1285 and report your location.

How To Mask The 'Eathy' Taste In Your Glass Of Water

Chill your water for a bit
add ice cubes
a slice of lemon
drops of lemon juice to taste
add a packet of water flavoring

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