Water Users Complain Of Foul Taste, Odor

People in northeast Tacoma have complained to utility officials about foul-smelling and bad-tasting water.

Tacoma City Water says there is no bacterial contamination evident, but it is advising affected customers not to drink the water until the odors are gone.

The complaints - describing the odor as smelling like diesel fuel, petroleum, chemicals or mothballs - started Thursday, city officials said.

The utility received about 150 calls Thursday and Friday, primarily from Twin Lakes and Federal Way.

The main was turned off Thursday.

“Right now, our best guess is that the problem is related to a new 48-inch water main to northeast Tacoma we put into service Wednesday night,” said Tacoma City Water Superintendent Ken Merry. “But we haven’t been able to identify what is causing the problem or where it is coming from.”

But Merry said customers’ descriptions of the odor suggest a solvent could be the problem.

Water samples have been taken to a laboratory, and mains in the area are being flushed.

City Water has advised the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department of the problem.