Many Stockton residents have been holding their noses every time they turn on the faucet lately.
Suddenly, the water smells. Yet describing the odor is a matter of interpretation.
On social media, some say it has started stinking like water in a fish tank. Others indicate there are scents of celery or corn. And some say the smell is dank, likening the odor to mold or mildew.
Residents aren’t imagining things: The city of Stockton and a major water provider acknowledged the issue Wednesday, saying, “Some customers may notice changes in the taste, odor or appearance of their water.”
California Water Service issued a statement saying a wholesale water supplier made a “seasonal shift” in the source of the city’s drinking water. The utility acknowledged the smell could be “unpleasant.” But it reassured customers that the water remains safe to drink.
“The water provided by both Cal Water and the City of Stockton continues to meet all water quality standards set to protect customers’ health and safety,” the statement, posted on Cal Water’s website, reads. The agency says it has ordered additional testing to make sure the water supply remains safe.
Cal Water says it is trying to pump more groundwater and conduct “additional flushing” to clear the pipes. It said conditions are expected to return to normal soon.
In the meantime, the water company offered suggestions for getting rid of the odor. One way, the utility says, is to fill a pitcher and let it chill in the refrigerator. The theory is that will cause any odors to dissipate and be less noticeable.
As if bad-smelling water weren’t enough, some Stockton residents are complaining the flow also has an unappealing color, with some tap water coming out brown, yellow or “pinkish.”
Cal Water urges those who “experience a slight color to the water” to let their taps run awhile. The utility says the color will clear.
The issues caught some customers off-guard this week. In a public Facebook group called “Stockton Crime, News and Information,” one online poster who goes by the handle souryellow23 attracted 178 comments by Thursday morning, noting it was “smelling like fish tank water.”
Another customer said, “It smells like straight up mold for the last 24 hours at my house.”
“I was panicking, thinking we had a leak somewhere,” the commenter said, “then I realized it only smells like that when the water is running, no matter which faucet.”
Descriptions varied, but one comment probably summed up the situation best:
“The water does smell weird.”