The taste of the tap water is different now

[u/Meguinn]

Update 2 Sept 2025: (speech to dictation voicemail from the City of Ottawa, personal info removed),
“…we are experiencing a seasonal taste and odour event from the Ottawa river just due to the low water levels and the really high temperatures we’ve been having with the last month, and it's got to do with some of the aquatic organic compounds that are in the water. We do remove some through our treatment, but unfortunately, we can't remove them all. This does not affect the safety of the water. We are still continuing sampling the water quality across the city over 50 locations. If you have an issue, you can always just try putting it in the fridge to cool it down or some customers have been using some carbon filters such as the carafe or ?? (speak to text dictation literally wrote “junk file” and that is what it sounded like she said lol so idk) and then putting that in the fridge.”

I don’t love that answer if I’m being honest. Has anyone had any luck with the carbon filters?

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Update 29 Aug 2025: I called the city (311). Just a heads up if you call, it was 90+ minutes on hold this morning lol. It’s all good though. They sent a request to the water department and in 10 days or less someone will be in touch to come take a water sample. They didn’t know how long of a wait it would be to actually come get the sample lol. At least it’s progress but I definitely probably should have called about it earlier.

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It started tasting like algae/musty aquarium late June this year.

The taste went away for 3-4 weeks, but it’s been pretty constant since. I could smell my bath water running the other night—it was earthy, like beets.

Apparently the Ottawa river “blooms” when it gets hot, so I figured it was the cause. It’s not very hot right now though, and last night my drinking water tasted so earthy it was almost like mold. I believe it’s worse in the evenings but I could be wrong about that.

Anyone else experiencing this? I hope it’s the river being normal for Orleans so I can stop worrying about plumbing and my sense of smell. I’m open to any experience or input you may have though. Thank you!

[u/TheDrainSurgeon]

Plumber here. Call 3-1-1.

[u/Director_Coulson → u/TheDrainSurgeon]

Love how your username checks out

[u/WestCup2814]

Call the city! Pretty sure a few people posted this yesterday and everyone recommended to call the city

[u/theblendismagic]

I've been away a few days and just had a glass of water. Your description is perfect. Musty aquarium in Chapel Hill North. 

[u/LuvCilantro]

No issues here in Orleans Village/Chateauneuf. I drink multiple glasses of tap water per day (with ice made from the same tap water), and there's no taste. Maybe it's the pipes in your house or area.

[u/Meguinn]

No way, creepy! Okay I called but I think it’s not urgent enough to discuss afterhours so I’ll call back tomorrow in the day. I’ll update the post if you guys want.

[u/ButterscotchSame4006]

It will take time for the water to get back to what you expect even after it gets cool, the water flows a long way before it gets here, and is affected along the way. Not just in the river, but in the slower moving parts of the watershed, creeks, streams, swamps, etc.

[u/Significant_Pound243]

Mold cycles in our water from organic rotting materials on embankments. Mold is hard to remove apparently based on the flavor.

[u/Erik613]

This happens mis to late summer summer every year. The water is also warmer, which makes the taste more noticeable.

[u/Meguinn → u/Erik613]

Thanks for confirming that. So you notice it every year then if it’s been a hot summer?