City of Odessa officials say tap water is safe despite unusual taste/odor

ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - According to the press release by the City of Odessa, the foul-smelling drinking water in Odessa is safe to use. [KTRE]

Odessa residents encountered foul-smelling tap water Wednesday morning after a newly activated waterline introduced algae into the municipal supply system. The Colorado River Municipal Water District placed three miles of fresh pipeline into operation the previous night, and when the system was charged, it drew algae that subsequently circulated through Odessa's distribution network, according to city officials.

Aaron Smith, Odessa's city manager, explained the technical cause of the odor problem. "When that water was charged, and that line was charged, it picked up algae, and that influx of algae into our system caused that odor and that smell," Smith said. He acknowledged resident frustration but indicated the unpleasant smell would likely dissipate within 24 hours.

City leaders moved quickly to address alarmed residents who questioned whether sewage had contaminated the water supply. Smith directly refuted those concerns, stating that no cross-connections existed in Odessa's system—the type of structural flaw that could allow wastewater to mix with drinking water. Mayor Cal Hendrick demonstrated confidence in the water's safety by consuming it himself. "Do I want an odor in the water? No. But is the water safe for drinking? Yes. How do I know that? Well, because I drank two glasses of water and I made a glass of coffee with it and I'm just fine," Hendrick said.

Testing confirmed the water met all state and federal drinking standards. The naturally occurring minerals that created the odor posed no health risk, officials said, and residents could safely use the water for drinking, cooking, bathing and other household purposes.

Some residents suggested the city simply flush the system to resolve the problem. Hendrick explained why that approach was impractical. Purging the entire network would consume approximately 100 million gallons—equivalent to one week's worth of the city's total water usage. The city planned to monitor water quality while coordinating with the Colorado River Municipal Water District to track any ongoing changes. Residents with questions could contact the City of Odessa Utilities Department at 432-335-4627.