Lots of complaints about the taste and smell of Kenora’s tap water over the past couple of weeks.
The algae flavour has been prominent.
Teika Newton from the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation says she not suprised by the complaints.
“The blooms historically have happened more in the peak of the summer, but in recent years, like in the last decade or so, the bloom is shifting later and later in the season and so now we’re seeing the peak, generally, at the end of September and into early October,” says Newton.
Newton adds that the algae taste and smell in recent weeks is not that unusual.
“It’s not really all that surprising that people are noticing the problem now. About 15 or 20 years ago, this is something you would have noticed in your drinking water in July and August, and the reason for the shift is of course climate change. The water is warming…the air is warming. We have less ice cover.”
Newton adds the water is safe to drink because the city has an excellent treatment facility and if there are any toxins before treatment, the level is very low to non-existent.
