Kansas City, does your tap water taste kind of funny? Here’s why
Have you noticed an unusual taste or smell to your tap water recently? You’re not imagining it— Kansas City’s water supply is undergoing special treatment due to recent heavy rain and runoff.
Why does my water taste different?
The Missouri River supplies drinking water to the Kansas City area. Multiple recent rain storms have caused runoff and river water levels to increase. When river levels are unusually high, KC Water changes the treatments used to ensure the water supply is clean and safe.
The taste is caused by a combination of runoff from recent storms and the chemicals used to treat the water in order to ensure it is potable.
“Weather conditions can sometimes affect the taste and odor of our tap water but it does not affect water quality or safety,” citywide water utility KC Water wrote in a statement released on Monday.
Is my tap water safe to drink despite the odd taste?
Yes. KC Water spokesperson Heather Frierson told The Star that the unusual taste and smell are no cause for alarm.
“The taste and odor that some customers are experiencing is a normal process and we have this issue every spring after heavy or continuous rains,” she said.
Some residents complained of a “rancid” or “mushroomy” flavor to their water. “Tap water got rancid in downtown and midtown today,” one commenter on Twitter told Mayor Quinton Lucas.
However, a “rancid” taste does not indicate that the water is actually unsafe to drink. KC Water attributed the strange flavor to “operational changes” as well as seasonal ones.
When will my water taste normal again?
Once Missouri River levels return to normal, KC Water will likely be able to resume treating the city’s tap water how it normally does. The timing of this shift will depend on upcoming weather: More storms and runoff will mean river levels stay high, while drier weather will likely cause river levels to decrease in the coming days.
“Our water is safe, but the odor and smell will be with us until Sunday or Monday,” said Frierson. “If we receive more rain tonight into tomorrow, the issue will continue for a few more days. The city is flushing the system by opening fire hydrants, in addition to the treatment.”
In the meantime, while the city’s tap water is perfectly safe to drink, you can attempt to remove the taste by using an at-home water purifying filter or simply drink bottled water until the tap water returns to normal.
Do you have more questions about utilities in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
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