JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

If your drinking water has a slightly earthy odour and taste, do not be alarmed. It is safe to consume.

That is the message several West Island towns are issuing to residents who have detected an odour and/or slight change in taste of their tap water.

“It is related to the temperature of the water (in Lake St. Louis) that rises during the summer and the algae that grow with the increasing temperatures,” Beaconsfield director-general Patrice Boileau told The 1510 West.

The towns of Pointe Claire, Beaconsfield, Senneville and the boroughs of Pierrefonds-Roxboro and L’Île-Bizard-Sainte−Geneviève have issued notices about this change earlier this month. All these municipalities receive their water from the filtration plant in Pointe Claire.

The change in the water is caused by increased levels of algae in Lake St. Louis, an occurrence that routinely happens in summer.

Algae are a mix of water-based organisms which together create a mossy-looking green foam, recognizable to anyone who has visited a lake. Water treatment plants remove the algae from the drinking water, but its earthy taste and odour can still persist. To offset this, the towns recommend residents place their water pitchers into the fridge to cool before drinking.

Boileau added that, like in years past, this change is expected to only last a couple of weeks.