Manatee County’s tap water should be back to normal as algae bloom fades, officials say

A bloom of blue-green algae that has been affecting the taste and smell of Manatee County tap water is subsiding, county officials say.

The bloom in the Lake Manatee Reservoir is producing a non-toxic compound called geosmin that can impart water with a musty odor.

Levels of the compound have now dropped low enough that county water treatment facilities can filter out its effects before water reaches customers, Manatee County utilities director Katie Gilmore said in an email update.

“The intensity of the bloom has reduced over the past few weeks due to both the treatment efforts of our staff and the natural cycle of the bloom,” Gilmore said. “There should be no noticeable taste or odor to the drinking water.”

The county also began having the water independently tested for algal toxins in July after safety concerns were raised by residents and water quality advocates.

Blue-green algae can produce several kinds of toxins that can be harmful to human health if swallowed.

Independent tests have shown no toxins in treated drinking water. A trace level of one toxin was detected in untreated lake water, but it was below levels considered harmful to human health.

“We are also performing screening analysis for some toxins at our on-site lab utilizing toxin test strips,” Gilmore said. “We will continue to monitor and treat for algae, taste and odor compounds, and toxins as needed.”

As of this week, four rounds of independent testing have found no toxins in the county’s finished drinking water. The county is awaiting results from an additional round of testing.

Blue-green algae toxins in drinking water are not regulated by the state or federal government, which leaves oversight to local water providers. The Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization and several states have established safety guidelines for blue-green algae toxins.