By John Tredrea, Special Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — Some residents have been saying for about two months that their water smells musty.
Mayor David Del Vecchio said Monday that “some people who live in town have complained about it.”
He added, “United Water, which supplies Lambertville with water, is testing it.”
United Water spokesman Steve Goudsmith said Wednesday morning that the musty odor and taste of the water have been caused by a algae bloom on the surface of the reservoir used by Lambertville.
”We treated the reservoir for this problem, and it is now showing no signs of algae,” he said. “We are monitoring the water quality very closely, as we always do, and the water continues to meet or surpass all safe drinking water standards.”
Mr. Goudsmith predicted the musty odor and taste of water will vanish now that the algae has been removed.
”It will take some time to happen — water already in the system will have work its way through,” he explained. “Once it does, we fully expect the musty odor and taste to disappear.”
He said algae causing mustiness in water “is a very common situation that happens in open surface reservoirs — that is, reservoirs that are exposed to the air — around the country.”
He said mustiness also can be caused by “temperature stratification” in water.
”When the weather gets colder, cold water sinks to the bottom of the reservoir, and warm water rises to the top, which can cause mustiness for a time,” he said.
Kara Hughes, a Clinton Street resident who has lived in the city since 1998, said Tuesday that she was the first to call United Water about musty-smelling water.
”Every step of the way, United Water has said there are no health problems with the water,” she said.
But Ms. Hughes, who said a number of other residents called United Water after she did, remains worried.
The mother of a 7-month-old girl and 3-year-old boy said she’s contacted the state Department of Environmental Protection about the issue.
”They told me they were concerned about it, but right now, they’re pretty swamped with dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane,” she said.
Ms. Hughes, who said she has a strong sense of smell, said the problem began in late September.
”The water was clear, but with a terrible odor and taste,” she said. “United Water sent someone out, who said he couldn’t smell anything. We soon switched to drinking bottled water. Our hair started to smell after bathing. I started bathing the children less. Eventually, United Water started getting calls from other people about it.”
She said United Water offered a number of explanations for the musty odor and taste, which, in any case, have not gone away.
She said the explanations ranged from algae in the water to the opening of a valve to the Delaware and Raritan Canal because a reservoir was low on water.
”They (United Water) have come here and said they don’t smell it,” she said. “But when I had a party for my 3-year-old, people were coming in and saying ‘Whew, your house smells like mold!’”
She said, “United Water has stayed in regular touch. But we want a definite answer. We want clarity and confidence. We want the DEP to test this water themselves.”

