DANVILLE (WSLS 10) - Water plant operators are using powdered activated carbon in the treatment process after detecting early last week a weak earthy or musty taste in the treated water at the plant and odor in the raw water.
Operators began feeding the carbon on Monday, Oct. 12, when a plant operator detected the taste and odor issues.
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The city tests finished water for taste and odor each hour when the plant is operating. It checks raw water for the presence of odor several times each shift.
Although water distributed to the taps of customers has been through all the city's treatment processes and is safe to drink, officials said city has taken an added step to mitigate any taste issue. In that step, the city purged the water storage tanks across the city and then filled them with water that had been treated with powdered activated carbon.
In comparison, during taste and odor events in February and March, the city received hundreds of calls reporting a strong, earthy odor and taste.
Officials said water samples have been collected and sent to various laboratories. Results are expected later this week.
State officials from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Drinking Water are investigating the situation.