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 Water
Purification Department
Frequently Asked Questions
This fact sheet has been developed to answer questions in regards to the
taste and odor changes of the drinking water supply during the hot summer
months.
(1) I have water that tastes and smells odd, is it safe to
drink?
Yes. The taste and odor is a palatability issue. There are no health
hazards created regardless of the taste and odor.
(2) What causes the taste and odor changes?
A natural occurrence in all surface water supplies, an “algal bloom”, is
responsible for the taste and odor changes in the water supply. Algal
blooms usually occur in late July and into August each year.
(3) What are the conditions for an algal bloom to occur in the
water supply?
- Nutrients must be present – such as nitrogen, phosphorous and calcium,
which are derived from decaying vegetation.
- Turbidity has lessened – the turbidity or cloudiness of the water has
cleared up, allowing the penetration of the sunlight. This occurs due to
lack of rainfall.
- Temperature increase – the optimum temperature range of the lake water
for an algal bloom to occur is between 80 - 85. This is provided through
many hot summer days.
When all conditions are met, photosynthesis will take place and the algae
will grow or proliferate. Algal species, such as anabaena, secrete an
“oily” substance from their cells that causes an odor in the water supply.
Aquatic fungi, actinomycetes, grow on dead and decaying algae and cause an
earthy taste in the water.
(4) What steps are being taken to control the taste and odor?
The Benton Utilities Water Purification Plant utilizes several steps to
control the taste and odor produced by the algal blooms. Laboratory
personnel, through daily analysis, perform algal counts and can determine
the onset of an algal bloom. With the onset of an algal bloom, additional
chemicals are added to the treatment process. A copper sulfate solution is
added to reduce the algae count which will reduce the odor levels. To
reduce the unpleasant taste, activated carbon is used as an absorption
media. Each of these chemicals is removed during the treatment process
prior to delivery of the potable water supply. Chlorine, which is used as
the disinfectant in the treatment process, also aids in odor reduction.
(5) What is that pink stuff in my bathroom where I have been
running water? By Nelson Yarlott.
Q. I am the manager of a small system in the Midwest. We have a customer
who is experiencing an unusual problem. She has a pinkish substance on her
bathroom fixtures that is very persistent, appearing in the shower, sink
and along the water line of her toilet bowl. The problem seems to be
unique to her home, as we have had no similar complaints from any other
customers. We have tested the water at her tap and just before her service
connection and have found nothing unusual that we think could cause this.
Can you help?
A. This question seems to peek its head on a fairly regular basis.
Utilities from all over the United States have experienced similar
problems and contacted the Small Systems Helpline and the AWWA Technical
Forum (www.awwa.org/forums) for advice on how to deal with it. The bottom
line? Pink residue is less likely a problem associated with water quality
than with naturally occurring airborne bacteria. The bacteria produces a
pinkish film, and sometimes a dark gray film on surfaces that are
regularly moist, including toilet bowls, showerheads, sink drains and
tiles. The problem also more commonly occurs in humid regions of the
country.
To determine the exact species of bacteria would require lengthy and
costly laboratory testing, and for those reasons most homeowners are
reluctant to have the tests performed. Although the exact species of
bacteria is not known, most experts have concluded that this pink staining
is most likely from the bacteria Serratia marcescens. These bacteria
thrive on moisture, dust and phosphates and are widely distributed having
been found naturally in soil, food and also in animals. The conditions for
the survival of Serratia marcescens are minimal, and the bacteria may even
feed upon itself in the absence of other nutrients.
Members of the Serratia genus were once known as harmless organisms that
produced a characteristic red pigment. Because of this, scientists and
teachers frequently used it in experiments to track other microbes. More
recently, Serratia marcescens has been found to be pathogenic to some
people, having been identified as a cause of urinary tract infections,
wound infections, and pneumonia, and is no longer recommended for use in
school experiments.
Many times, the pinkish film appears during and after new construction or
remodeling activities. The dirt and dust stirred up from the work probably
contains Serratia bacteria. Once airborne, the bacteria seek moist
environments to proliferate. Some people have even noted the pink residue
in their pet’s water bowl, which causes no apparent harm and can be easily
cleaned off. Others have indicated that their experience with this
nuisance occurs during a time of year that their windows are open for the
majority of the day. These airborne bacteria can come from any number of
naturally occurring sources, and the condition can be further aggravated
if customers remove the chlorine from their water by way of an activated
carbon filter.
What to do
Short of buying pink fixtures, the best solution to keep these surfaces
free from the bacterial film is continual cleaning. A chlorinous compound
is best, but use care with abrasives to avoid scratching the fixtures,
which will make them even more susceptible to bacteria. Chlorine bleach
can be periodically stirred into the toilet tank and flushed into the bowl
itself. As the tank refills, more bleach can be added. Three to five
tablespoons of fresh bleach should be all that is necessary. A toilet cake
that contains a disinfectant can keep a residual in the water at all
times. The porous walls of a toilet tank can harbor many opportunistic
organisms.
Cleaning and flushing with chlorine will not necessarily eliminate the
problem, but will help to control these bacteria. Keep bathtubs and sinks
wiped down and dry to avoid this problem. Using a cleaning solution that
contains chlorine will help curtail the onset of the bacteria.
While all water utilities are concerned about the quality of the product
they are supplying to their customers, they cannot guarantee water quality
once it leave the pressurized distribution system and enters the
customer’s plumbing. Homeowners’ individual components and the cleanliness
of their environment are not part of the utility’s responsibility to
provide a safe and aesthetically pleasing product.
(6) I have discolored water in my house. Is it safe and why is
it discolored?
Yes, the water is safe. The substance you see is manganese, which is a
natural precipitant of treated water and normally adheres to the sides and
bottom of the water main. When the pressure and/or flow of the water
changes the manganese can scour off the walls of the main and get into
your home or business. Manganese is a natural mineral and is not harmful.
Discolored water happens when a water main is bumped or moved, as in
construction, or there is a change in the pressure and/or flow within the
pipe, such as what happens when a fire hydrant is opened, a valve is
operated or a main is broken.
(7) What can I do about milky or cloudy water?
Sometimes when a repair is made to a water main, or a homeowner's water
service, air can become trapped in the lines. Because the lines are under
pressure, the trapped air becomes suspended in the water. The result is
water that is saturated with air, and looks milky when put into a clear
glass. In some cases the Water Dept. staff will purge the air out of the
line through a fire hydrant, but in most cases it clears up on its own.
To clear this up, you can generally let your faucet run for five minutes
or so, and it will run clear. This is not enough water to effect your
water usage on your bill.
(8) What can I do about the discolored water?
Discolored water can be caused by many factors, i.e., construction in the
area, lightening strikes, operation of a fire hydrant, natural ground
movement, and adding additional pumping capacity to the water system.
Because most of these factors can not be anticipated or controlled by
Benton Water, it is necessary to address the situation after it has
happened.
- Determine if the discoloration is in your hot water or your cold
water. If only your hot water is affected the problem most likely is in
your hot water heater and you will have to address it as a maintenance
issue.
- If your cold water is affected, use as little hot water as possible to
keep the discoloration out of your hot water tank.
- If your water is just slightly discolored the color of a brown paper
bag or lighter, open all and only your cold water taps and let them run
5-6 minutes.
- Flush your toilets 2-3 times.
- If the initial cold water flush does not clear up the problem, wait
about an hour and repeat flushing. This amount of water should not affect
your water bill. If the problem persists, DO NOT hesitate to call Benton
Water, and we will send someone out.
- Do not wash laundry in discolored water, it will discolor light
clothes. If your water becomes discolored during a laundry in cycle, keep
the laundry damp until the water clears. Rewash the clothes, DO NOT USE
CHLORINE BEACH.
(9) In the event of a water outage, who do I call?
If you pay your utility bill to Benton Utilities, call 501-776-5933. This
phone number is answered 24 hours a day/365 days a year. If your bill has
been turned off for non-pay, you will be required to pay the past due
amount in order to get it restored.
(10) Where do I go to get Water turned on at my house or
business?
You will go to the Benton Utilities Billing Services Department at the
Benton Municipal Complex, there phone number is 501-776-5916.
(11) I have a question about my bill, who do I call?
Call the Billing Services department at 501-776-5916.
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