By today, Missouri American customers in Jefferson City should no longer notice an oily taste or smell in their water, according to officials with the water company.
A combination of a heavier than anticipated snowfall and higher river levels brought about this situation, according to company spokesman Ann Detmer
"When the snow melts, it travels down to the lowest point of the river, and it picks up whatever is on the ground, including material used to clear roads, as it comes down to river," she said. "We knew it was coming and had a water treatment process in place, but we had more snow than anticipated. Since that time, we've made adjustments."
Detmer said they used more carbon filters and not additional chlorine to take care of the problem.
"The carbon helps get rid of the taste," she said. "We stepped up our testing, especially at our river intake, customizing the process to surpass EPA standards for water quality."
Detmer pointed out the higher snow levels not only occurred here, but upstream as well so all that melt came down and affected water here.
"We always have to look at what the situation is with snow melt, and if we have another snowy year like this, we'll have to be ready for it," she said.