PWFD reasssures Portsmouth water OK

By John McDaid | Wednesday, 18 August 2010

You might have noticed a slight off taste in your tap water over the past week, but the Portsmouth Water and Fire District (PWFD) has identified the issue and determined it poses no health risk, officials said in a release. The source of the musty or earthy taste, the District said, was algae or other natural growth in the Lawton reservoir and St. Mary's Pond. Although the plant material is removed during treatment, the taste and odor can remain.

PWFD general manager William McGlinn said that despite the taste and odor, the water is safe for drinking and all other uses, and is routinely tested to Department of Health water quality standards. McGlinn indicated that earthy, musty taste and odor problems in the island’s treated water are not uncommon in August and September, particularly during unusually hot, dry summers. McGlinn noted that the taste and odor problem is noticeably more intense this year, which is prompting complaints from customers that normally do not notice the problem.

Newport Water (which supplies PWFD) began the process of switching to a different water source last week to help eliminate the taste and odor problem. Water from the Watson Reservoir in Little Compton is now being treated and supplied as of last Friday. Although the District continued to receive taste and odor complaints as of Monday afternoon, the intensity of the problem appears to be lessening and should continue to improve during the week as the existing water in the storage tanks and piping system is used up by customer demand.

McGlinn suggested that chilling the water in an open container in the refrigerator will help improve the taste and odor. Although the District does not generally recommend water filters, some customers have indicated that pitchers with charcoal filters have also helped to reduce the taste and odor. Although there is nothing the District can do to eliminate this problem in the treated water, McGlinn said that the District apologies to its customers for this temporary, seasonal inconvenience.

Editorial note: Substantially from a press release.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, pwfd

Comments

craigi

Thu, 08/19/2010 - 12:15pm

Let's not beat around the bush! Portsmouth has horrible water ALL THE TIME. It always smells and tastes bad. I never voluntarily drink the stuff.

They should be ashamed to pass this off to us as good water. There is plenty of good water in New England, and there is no excuse for this stuff that smells like vegi-mud.

Fix it. For good. Invest in either the right equipment or some better sources.

"you can never explain everything to everybody"

Wernerlll

Thu, 08/19/2010 - 7:30pm

It seems, so far, we here are fortunate to have access to water while water wars are rising on various continents. I do not mind a little earthy taste even though I use two sets of filters. Some things just remain "earthy", thank goodness.

However, I think the water board, the people planning development and growth, the zoning boards, and the town council should engage in an off-site "Quo Vadis". Moreover, not invite real estate developers, the Chamber of Commerce, the state's EDC, or the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission. We know what their mission statement focus on, growth, economic development, jobs, more of everything.

My point is to look at the reality of what is logically and realistically feasible, supportable, and sustainable. Particularly, the obsession to grant more housing projects when we already have a water shortage, which seems to occur every other year, does not comport with continuing to approve housing projects, the Alpaca Farm vs. RIN is a case in point. In addition, what about all the nitrogen run-off that promotes algae growth and creates dead zones in the bays? Perhaps we should encourage organic agriculture and stop using chemicals to fertilize. Believe it, but there are organically fertilized golf courses in the United States, and there seems to be no problem accepting a few weeds. It seems more "earthy" after all.

Take the human catastrophe in Pakistan. It is a sign of things to come, as the saying goes. It is finally realized, that the disaster is indicative of the impacts of climate change, and the monsoon season is not yet over (Richard Holbrooke). Eventually it will be our turn.

Will we be prepared or will we need more flash flooding in order to engage in critical thinking? Our elected leaders need more input from all of us in order to get a sense of where our community wants to be in managing the impending changes that will be thrust upon us. Will we have the will, or are we willing to accept living in the continuum of exploitation, greed, and self-interest.

Hopeful,

Wernerlll

Richard Gottlieb

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 1:54pm

Richard Gottlieb
I am a former Board Member of the PWFD and can say is that we have the safest and cleanest water in the state of Rhode Island.. When was the last time you ever heard that the Town of Portsmouth issued a boil water alert. We are also proud to say that we put flouride in our water.

Wernerlll

Sun, 08/22/2010 - 5:45pm

Thank You Richard!
I know you are doing a good job but some things are not under your control. Fertilizer and Round-Up Run-off, extreme weather fronts, development, demand by businesses, nurseries, and restaurants that cannot function under water restrictions.
What I wonder about is, where is the upper limit for reservoir capacity to ensure a reliable supply of fresh drinking water without undue burden on businesses and communities?

Grateful,
Wernerlll

craigi

Tue, 08/24/2010 - 9:24am

"Safest and Cleanest"....

I didn't hear a comment about the skanky taste and smell. It smells horrible and tastes worse. I would not give any of my guests a glass of that water!

I am not a scientist so cannot comment on the lack of microbes in it - however, no one with any taste buds or olfactory senses can deny that the stuff stinks...all of the time.

Sorry, but that water is nothing to be proud of. If you really want an accurate reading, get water from all around New England and try a blind taste test. I honestly have not tasted much worse!

"you can never explain everything to everybody"