Martinez Water Quality Improves Over the Weekend

The water quality coming out of Martinez taps took a decidedly better turn this weekend, as city officials struck a deal with the Contra Costa Water District to provide treated water to the city until the district can fix the problems with the Martinez reservoir.

The smell and odor problems that have plagued Martinez tap water for several weeks was noticably diminished Sunday, as treated water from CCWD began flowing through the city's system.

Public Works Director Dave Scola said he was frustrated with delays in treating the algae bloom in the reservoir that has caused taste and odor problems with Martinez water.

“We have a tie between our system and theirs,” Scola said. “If CCWD has a problem with their water, we can provide them some of ours. And if we have a problem, they can provide us with water. And that’s what we’re going to do until they can properly treat the water that they sell us from their reservoir.”

Scola added that CCWD’s treated water will be sold to the city at the same cost as raw water.

For the past several weeks, the city has been inundated with complaints about the taste and odor of the water. The algae bloom – the source of the complaints – does not pose a health threat, Scola said. But the usual water treatment efforts do nothing to remove the taste and odor problems from the water.

“There is nothing we can do to it,” he said. “So CCWD is going to open the source ties and provide us with their treated water.”

He said the district will be working this week with various treatment methods to try and resolve the algae bloom issue.

“Delta water has a number of nutrients in it that can promote growth of algae when we get warm sunny weather,” said CCWD spokeswoman Jennifer Allen. “We’re working closely to identify the best way to go through treatment processes, and also to provide treated water directly to the plant.”