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East Bay Residents Complain About Water Taste After EBMUD Makes Drought-Related Changes

OAKLAND (CBS SF) – People living in the East Bay are complaining about the taste and smell of their drinking water, after the East Bay Municipal Utility District made changes last week.

On Thursday, EBMUD said they started taking drinking water from the top of the Pardee Reservoir in the Sierra foothills instead of at lower levels.

The new location has warmer water and some algae, but the district said the water is treated and safe to drink.

"What happens is that higher up in the reservoir, you have warmer water and you have water affected by sunlight. So sometimes you get algae blooms," EBMUD spokesperson Abby Figueroa told KPIX 5.

EBMUD made the change due to the drought. According to a district statement, the change preserves cold water deeper in the reservoir, which will be released downstream to improve conditions for returning salmon.

Customers have complained about the change. "Water tasting or smelling a little different than usual, smelling metallic or musty or earthy," said Amy McKenzie of Piedmont, one of several hundred customers who complained about the water.

On Monday, EBMUD returned to drawing water further down the reservoir as they try to figure a solution. Figueroa warned customers the unusual smell and taste could become a recurring issue.

"If the drought continues, and if we don't find any other options, this is a problem that is going to come back," Figueroa said.

The spokesperson said EBMUD will warn customers the next time they will use water from the top of the reservoir.

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