That drought was ever-so-briefly interrupted by showers late yesterday. But no pattern-breaking rain was in the forecast, and the Delaware River Basin
Commission (DRBC) said it might have to issue a regional drought warning as early as Thursday.
Although the hot and dry conditions have browned out lawns and petrified plant life throughout the region, they have been a godsend for water algae. The algae have grown prolifically in the Delaware River and in the New York state reservoirs that provide some of the region's drinking water.
When the algae die, the metabolites they produce yield a musty odor that can work its way into tap-water supplies, said Tom Yohe, senior manager of water quality for Philadelphia Suburban Water Co.
Water that tastes like dirt may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is harmless. And so far, at least, the complaints do not appear to be of epidemic proportions.
Philadelphia Suburban, which serves Wyndmoor, has received "sporadic" comments about odor and taste, said spokeswoman Donna Alston.
And in Philadelphia, "20 to 25" customers have voiced similar complaints, said city Water Department spokeswoman Joanne Dahme. All of them are served by the Baxter treatment plant in Torresdale, she said.
She said the first complaints came in last weekend, and this week the city began treating its water with carbon to reduce impurities and odors.
Philadelphia Suburban has used carbon for years and has increased its use ''dramatically" since the drought intensified during the summer, Yohe said.
Sunlight and heat have helped the algae grow, and the lack of rain keeps them from being flushed out, Yohe said. "They couldn't have a better ticket if they had a choice. They're kind of fat, dumb and happy."
"There is algae in the Delaware. There's no doubt about it," said the DRBC's Richard Tortoriello. But he stopped somewhat short of saying it was a crisis.
"I think there are bigger problems than just a little odor in the water," he said.
