Water still safe to drink despite odour and taste, city says

Some Londoners might notice their drinking water tastes and smells different.

But don’t worry – it’s still safe to drink, city hall officials say.

Naturally occurring organic compounds in Lake Erie are responsible for the recent change in the taste and smell of drinking water for some residents in south London, they said.

“This is a temporary change that we anticipate will last approximately a week,” officials said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The city also offered some advice for residents: Using a cartridge water filter, or by distilling water in the fridge, will improve the taste and odour.

The bulk of London’s drinking water comes from Lake Huron, roughly 85 per cent, with the remainder coming from Lake Erie. More than 12,000 water quality tests are conducted annually to en