Still Have Fishy-Tasting Water? Call 3-1-1, Austin Water Says

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Austin Water officials have made considerable progress in ridding a fish-like odor in taps primarily throughout the central and south portions of the city, officials said Sunday.

But residents still consuming water with an unwanted mussel bouquet or vaguely fishy aroma as part of its taste should call the telephone line for city service, they urged. That's 3-1-1 for the uninitiated.

Late last week, water utility officials scrambled to rid the offensive taste amid numerous reports from residents of water that smelled fishy. The culprit: Untold numbers of invasive zebra mussels (named the distinctive striping on their shells) clogging up an intake valve while in the throes of decomposition. Prolific breeders, zebra mussels are an invasive species at area waterways that have become a scourge.

But enough about the mussels, and back to what's being done to dissipate municipal water of their decomposing essence. On Sunday, Austin Water officials provided a map showing locations of the water system where flushing has been taking place toward the end of ridding water of the unwanted odor. "Flushing will be ongoing as we continue to see improvements," officials assured. "If you are still experiencing issues, please contact 3-1-1 and provide your location."

Austin Water officials also provided an update on Saturday, suggesting considerable progress in eradicating the odor caused by dead zebra mussels: "We are continuing to see big improvements to taste & odor this morning as water moves throughout the distribution system. Operations are flushing lines to help move the water through faster. Water continues to meet all regulatory and drinking water standards & is safe to drink."

It's unpleasant, yes. Gross? Most assuredly. Yet Austin Water officials assure the water is still safe to drink. If you can stomach it, that is. Until then, Patch has two words: Bottled water.

Related story: No Timeline Known When Fishy Odor In Austin Water Might Dissipate

The hustle to rid the mussel marks the second time in less than four months that utility officials have had to scramble to prevent the city's water quality to become compromised. Following historic flooding in the Austin area late last year, the city was forced to issue a city-wide boil water notice after the accumulation of storm-induced sediment and debris. Given the high turbidity of the water then, officials urged residents to reduce water usage while implementing a week-long boil-water notice as precaution — an unprecedented move in municipal history and an aberration for a major metro area such as Austin, the nation's 11th largest U.S. city.

While residents later learned the quality of the water was never compromised from a health standpoint, officials explained the call to curb water usage by relying on bottled water was largely designed to mitigate water flow at treatment plants to accommodate cleanup efforts.

What are zebra mussels?

According to the site TexasInvasives.org, zebra mussels potentially can cause "... tremendous environment and economic damage — by hurting aquatic life, damaging boats, hindering water recreation and even threatening your water supply." And they're prolific little breeders too, with a single zebra mussel able to produce up to one million microscopic larvae. According to the site, numerous area waterways have been invaded by the species, from being outright infested by them to merely being suspected of containing them.

• TexasInvasive.org listed several state lakes categorized as being "infested" with the species: Austin; Belton; Bridgeport; Canyon; Dean Gilbert (a 45-acre community fishing lake in Sherman); Eagle Mountain; Georgetown; Lady Bird; Lewisville; Livingston; Randell (local Denison access only); Ray Roberts; Stillhouse Hollow; Texoma; and Travis.
• Classified as "positive" for the presence of zebra mussels are: Lakes Fishing Hole; Grapevine; Lavon; Richland Chambers; Waco; and Worth. Zebra mussel presence also reaches downstream on the Colorado, Guadalupe, Lampasas, Leon, Little, Red, and Trinity Rivers, according to the website.
• Zebra mussels are less pervasive at lakes Fork and Ray Hubbard, classified as "suspect."

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services offers a substantive primer on zebra mussels and how boaters can help curb their spread for those keen on learning more about these unwanted critters. Check it out here.

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