‘Neglected’ infrastructure partly blamed for Columbia’s ongoing foul water, leader says
More treatment is on the way for Columbia’s stinking, dirt-tasting water, according to a city leader.
Columbia Council Member Aditi Bussells said Thursday that more additives arrived and were used to treat the the water Wednesday night. The city has brought in private sector experts who have “innovative technologies” to address the algae in Columbia’s water supply, which is causing the smell and taste.
City leaders hope to have a progress update next week, Bussells said.
“Our aging and neglected water infrastructure, the need for additional treatment materials and how long it takes to test for geosmin has been the root cause of the delay,” Bussells said.
The city’s administration pushed back against Bussells’ claim that infastructure had anything to do with the problems.
“This is not an issue caused by any neglect or deferred investment, but rather an unprecedented and historic event impacting our source water,” City Manager Teresa Wilson said.
For nearly a month, Columbia residents have complained about the smell and taste of tap water. The city’s water service said the cause is an unprecedented algae bloom in the Broad River, which feeds the Columbia Canal. The algae creates geosmin, a byproduct that gives the water its smell and taste. Geosmin is a naturally occurring substance that gives dirt and certain vegetables like beets their odor.
The water service has emphasized that the algae bloom and geosmin are harmless and that the water is safe.
The water service has said it treated the river with activated carbon over the last few weeks, which acts as a sponge for geosmin. Copper sulfate was also added earlier this week to fight the algae.
The copper sulfate treatment was approved by the Department of Health and Environmental Control, the water service said.
This story was originally published June 10, 2022 at 12:48 PM.