Taste & Odor
Unfortunately, from time to time some residents may experience discoloration, odor, or foul taste in their tap water. Hooper Water Improvement Districts water treatment facility uses various techniques to help lessen the intensity, but sometimes those techniques cannot fully eliminate taste and odor. The water is still safe to drink. These problems may typically go away with the changing of the seasons and the weather.
Discoloration
Discoloration may occur if the rate of flow is disturbed, for instance if a fire hydrant is opened or water main valve is closed. It can also come from the internal piping of a resident’s own home. In either case, the discoloration comes from a stirring of rust and sediment within the pipe, and while unappealing it is still safe to drink. Opening a faucet and letting the water run until it appears clear in color before drinking will help make water more aesthetically pleasing.
What can the homeowner do before reporting these issues to Hooper
Water Improvement District?
Check water softener, wait until the salt level is low and scoop out the salty gunk at the bottom of the brine tank. This mush consists of impurities in the salt, which don’t dissolve well and reduce the performance of the softener and may also give off an unpleasant taste and odor. We recommend you clean the brine tank once a year.
Check water heater, water heaters may have bacteria and particles that create hydrogen sulfide, this will give off a bad odor in the drinking water inside the home. To get rid of the bad odor you’ll want to flush and disinfect your tank.
Check fridge water dispensers, these dispensers have filters that remove some of the chemicals and other materials in the water. If your fridge dispenser water tastes bad it may be time to change the filter. If you have gone over the recommended time, there could be impurities getting into your water that change the taste. We recommend changing the filter every 6 months to avoid these issues.
Reporting Issues
Residents who experience discolored water or objectionable tastes and odors for a prolonged period may contact Hooper Water Improvement District at 801-985-1991. Please report the day and time you first noticed the problem, whether it affects both the hot and cold tap water, if you have recently installed a water heater, and if others in the neighborhood are experiencing the same issues.
