Smelly Tap Water In Odessa Has Lubbock Asking Questions

The City of Odessa has been responding to complaints of smelly tap water, causing many residents to avoid using sinks and sticking to bottled water. So, what does the city have to say about these allegations, and how can Lubbock residents ensure their water supply is safe to drink?

Bad Water in Odessa?

Over the weekend, Odessa residents called out the bad odor and brown tint coming from their tap water right out of the faucets. Enough complaints piled up that the city itself responded in attempts to calm the chaos.

To answer the big question first, no, the water was not poisoned or somehow rerouted from the sewage line... ew. In fact, when the city conducted purity tests, the levels all came back negative, meaning it met the state's health and safety standards, according to News West 9.

What most likely caused the coloration and distinct smell was the recent water line maintenance that dislodged calcium, magnesium, and other natural mineral deposits into the water supply.

Again, even though taste, color, and smell may be strange in parts of Odessa, there is no indication that the water is harmful or contaminated in some way.

How Clean is Lubbock Water?

This shakeup in Odessa begs the question for Lubbock asking whether our water supply is okay, even if it seems fine.

You can always check out the water quality report for the previous calendar year in Lubbock by visiting the city's website, or by viewing this PDF. If you're like me, then you may be shocked to see uranium and cyanide on the list of contaminants.

You have nothing to worry about, in fact, the legal limit for cyanide in city water supplies is 0.2 milligrams per liter which is practically nothing. For uranium, the number for acceptable contaminants changes to 30 micrograms (0.03 milligrams) per liter.

To get a better understanding of these numbers, check out Rapid Tables' conversion calculator.

You can also take it one step further by scheduling a water sample test to determine the contaminant levels at your home. There are several places right here in Lubbock that will do it for free.