Corpus Christi's water may taste and smell different soon. Here's why.
The water from your tap may taste and smell differently in the upcoming weeks.
Potentially: “earthy” or “musty.”
That’s because there will likely soon be a shortage of one of two chemicals used by the city to improve the taste and odor of the tap water, which is derived solely from surface resources.
The chemical is not needed to comply with state regulations, officials said, and treating water without it does not pose a health risk.
The lone manufacturer of permanganate in the country — Illinois-based company Carus LLC — may take as long as 90 days to begin providing it again following a fire at its plant earlier this month, city officials said Tuesday.
The chemical is paired with chlorine dioxide — which serves in a similar function of adjusting odor and taste — in the treatment of Corpus Christi’s water, according to the report delivered to the City Council.
The lack of permanganate may lead to some residents detecting a change, depending on individual taste profiles, as well as natural weather events that can affect turbidity — that is, the content and density of particles in the water, said City Manager Peter Zanoni.
“It's really an enhancer to the water,” he said. “But the issue is our Corpus Christi residents are used to it.”
The color is not expected to change.
The city currently has about a two-week supply of permanganate, said Andrew Molly, the city’s director of water systems and support services. Chlorine dioxide is currently available.
The city is working to secure another supplier of permanganate — reviewing what may be in stock at warehouses and contacting vendors — but it’s expected to be challenging pending Carus' resuming operations, officials said.
The product is also manufactured in India and China, Molly said.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi's water may taste and smell different soon. Here's why.
