HOUSTON — The City of Houston wants you to know that drinking water is safe even though it has received reports that the taste and smell have changed. A similar situation happened in 2021.
Houston Public Works said it ran some tests and found out the water contains "naturally occurring compounds like geosmin and MIB (2-methyl isoborneol), which are harmless but can cause a musty or earthy taste and odor."
The city said there are some things you can do to improve the taste of the drinking water:
- Use a slice or drop of lemon
- Use a carbon filter
- Chill the water or use ice
Anyone with questions about their water quality can call 311 or visit this website.
City officials said the naturally occurring compounds are a result of warmer surface water temperatures and direct sunlight. They said they're getting reports of the odor and taste changes across the city and expect it to dissipate in a few days.
