Residents voice concerns about Upper Sandusky water
UPPER SANDUSKY, Ohio (WTVG) — Some Upper Sandusky residents are voicing their concerns about the water. They said they noticed a difference in the way it tastes and smells.
The city said the water is safe to drink, but some business owners are concerned about how it is impacting their product.
Business owners have turned to bottled water for nearly everything. Some say it has gotten costly and is a hassle.
“It’s almost like a mushroom flavor or almost like a must,” Thomas Smith, the chef and owner at Don Tomosso’s Italian Kitchen, said.
He said he started noticing an odd taste in his food, so he decided to turn to bottled water.
“I make dough, I make bread, I make pizza dough, that’s all, almost half the ingredients is water,” Smith said.
Smith is not the only one having issues. An employee at Peacock Water Company said they have seen an increase in sales just in the last month. He said nearly every other customer is complaining about the city’s water.
According to a public notice from the city, it is aware of the taste and odor concerns. The city also said one commonly discussed cause is the presence of naturally occurring compounds that don’t pose a health risk and are not monitored by the EPA. It also said that many labs don’t test for the compounds and they are actively looking for qualified labs to help address the issue.
The Ohio EPA also confirmed the city has treated the reservoir, upgraded filtration and cleaned filtration equipment.
As for the businesses, the chamber of commerce has stepped in.
“We partnered with Hempy Water to provide free analytics as far as the testing of the water. Then, for them to assess the filtration systems,” Wyandot Chamber of Commerce executive director, Brittney Walton, said.
As for Smith, he just wants the city to fix the water. He said he is losing out on customers and doesn’t want to close his doors.
“I already made it through COVID. I don’t want to do it again,” Smith said.
The city is also encouraging residents who have concerns to attend their service committee meeting held at 5:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of the month in council chambers.
The Ohio EPA provided the following statement regarding the water:
“Upper Sandusky’s drinking water is safe and meets all drinking water standards. The city regularly tests the water and has done extra sampling in response to recent concerns.
We understand some residents have noticed a bad taste or smell. While unpleasant, these issues don’t pose health risks. Ohio EPA encourages water systems to address taste and odor problems, even though they aren’t part of health standards.
Ohio EPA is in regular contact with city officials and we’ve determined the likely cause of the unpleasant smell and taste is algae in the reservoir.
To address the issue, the city has taken multiple steps, including treating the reservoir, upgrading filtration, cleaning treatment equipment and storage tanks, and flushing the system. The city is also working with water treatment experts and learning from other communities with similar problems. Next steps include testing for compounds linked to algae that cause musty odors and exploring more treatment options.”
The city posted the following notice on social media:
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