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City water is safe but smelly

Havre water treatment plant staffers are working to correct another result of last week's rapid snowmelt - foul smells and tastes in Havre's drinking water.

"That's the problem when you get those floods. It's hell downtown, but you have to remember it hits the water plant next," water plant superintendent Jeff Jensen said today.

City public works director Dave Peterson said his office didn't receive any complaints about the funny-tasting water that he's aware of, although the water treatment plant did receive a call this morning.

"It's just the runoff that we're getting from Beaver Creek and Big Sandy Creek," he said. Both drain into the Milk River, which is the source of Havre's water.

Jensen said the water is safe to drink, but the level of organic material is creating some odd smells and a sour, acidic flavor.

"We have to kind of get the plant under control first and we're working on the taste right now," he said.

The plant, which has been upgraded over the last two years, handled the flood very well, Jensen said. The flood conditions make the treatment needs vary from hour to hour.

"You have to stay on top of it until it levels off," Jensen said. "It's safe to drink. We just have to get the taste and odor problem out."

The staffers are working on adjusting the levels of activated carbon being added to eliminate the taste and odor, he said.

 

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