From Staff Reports

A winter bloom of algae at Lake Lavon, a principal supplier of household use water for a large area in North Texas, has occurred, resulting in a slight change in both the taste and smell of the potable water serving communities such as the Town of Prosper, according to the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD).

Town of Prosper Public Works Director Frank Jaromin says the algal bloom is fairly common and reiterates that, at the present time, no harmful effects from the water have been noted by customers. "Some people may detect a different taste and odor in the treated drinking water. Others may not notice a difference at all," he said.

The slight changes in taste and odor are a palatability issue only, he said. The palatability change that results from a naturally occurring algal bloom does not alter the quality of the water provided by NTMWD.

"The water supply remains safe for use with no health risks created by these events," said Jaromin. Nevertheless, there may be Prosper residents who want more information on the bloom and its effects. "Anyone wishing to obtain more information may do so through their own research or by visiting the water district's Web site at www.ntmwd.com," he added.

Consumers who go online to that site can get information on what algal blooms are and the steps NTMWD is taking to minimize the taste and odor caused by algal blooms. In addition, the web site information has been updated to include information regarding the ozone implementation plan for the Wylie Water Treatment Plants and how this treatment process, once initiated, should significantly reduce and/or eliminate the taste and odor issues caused by algal blooms.

Useful sites include: 1) Winter Algal Blooms (Specific) -- A general fact sheet about winter algal blooms: www.ntmwd.com/downloads/tasteandodor/winterbloom.pdf; 2) Taste and Odor (General) -- Includes a general fact sheet about taste and odor, a summer bloom information page, and a winter bloom information page: www.ntmwd.com/taste_odor.html; and 3) Ozonation -- Includes brief information about ozonation benefits and the NTMWD ozonation implementation plan at the Wylie Water Treatment Plants: www.ntmwd.com/ozonation.html.