Two months removed from foul-smelling and -tasting tap water being distributed through South Austin pipes due to the presence of zebra mussels at a water treatment facility, Austin Water officials said they believe solutions are on the horizon that will prevent similar events in the future.
The foul water was created when a transmission main that contained mussels was drained for maintenance, killing the animals, Water Treatment Manager Mehrdad Morabbi said. Austin Water was not aware of the mussels’ presence, and when the main was brought back online, the animals created the smell and taste, he said.
“The water was still safe to consume and use, but it’s very difficult to use water that is not palatable,” Morabbi said. “That is something we as Austin Water are putting in barriers to prevent that from happening again. That caught us by surprise, and we were not prepared for and something we are going to avoid in the future.”
The zebra mussel is an invasive species that is present in Lake Travis and Lake Austin, the main sources of water for Austin and the surrounding areas. Mussels multiply quickly and attach to surfaces, which could damage and destroy water infrastructure. By attaching to boats, they are easily moved to new bodies of water.
