Stinky tap water is temporary inconvenience following heavy rains, safe to drink

Citizens Energy Group is working to correct a temporary service issue involving stinky tap water in parts of the city.

Residents on the eastside took to Facebook this week to complain about their tap water smelling like dirt, carrots or mold, with some commenting it happens a couple times a year.

Citizens spokesperson Ben Easley said the utility is aware of the unpleasant scent and is taking steps to get rid of the earthy smells.

“There are no safety risks associated with this issue, and Citizens expects the smell to soon subside,” Easley wrote in an email to IndyStar. “This earthy smell is the result of an organic compound produced by algae in the White River which arrived from various ponds and waterways after the large rain event last week.”

The public water coming out of the White River North Water Treatment Plant, which generally serves the northern and eastern neighborhoods of Indy, may experience the odor.

Citizens staff is taking more water samples and have modified the treatment process by increasing the use of activated carbon, Easley wrote.

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Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk

IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Citizens Energy to fix 'earthy' smell in some residential tap water