Alexandria Louisiana Tap Water Smells Like Fish - Here Are Some Possible Reasons Why

 For the past few days we have noticed that our tap water has a strong fish-like odor. The smell is so bad that we have had to buy bottled water to wash our dishes and cook our food. This may become a problem because local stores are starting to sell out. 

If you are experiencing that horrible fishy smell, here may be some possible causes:

If your tap water smells like fish, you may be detecting chloramine – a compound of chlorine and ammonia used to disinfect public water sources. Unfortunately, chloramine sometimes causes a fishy odor. Elements like barium and cadmium can also give off a fishlike smell. - From Google

For a more detailed explanation:

Organic compounds in the water

If your water glass sniff test tells you the water itself is the source of the fishy odor, it’s possible that you smell naturally occurring organic compounds such as barium and cadmium in your water.

Barium is a metal in mineral ore which can seep into groundwater. Cadmium is a metal that enters water supplies through industrial waste, deteriorating galvanized plumbing, or fertilizer runoff. The EPA requires municipal treatment facilities to monitor the levels of both in your water, but if you have a private well you’re on your own to treat it.

Chloramines

If your home is on city water, it’s possible that the fish odor is a result of the municipal water treatment center’s disinfection process. Chloramine, a compound of chlorine and ammonia, is often used to eliminate waterborne pathogens, but if there are still excessive levels by the time it reaches your faucet, it can give water a fishy smell.

Algae Blooms

If your water source is a lake or reservoir, the fishy smell
could be from algae. The heat and direct sunlight of summer can increase the algae blooming in the water. Although the municipal water plants treat for algae, particles may still seep into your water supply at a level detectable by smell.

From Tier1Water.com

The consensus from the sources that I researched is that though the water smells bad it isn't likely to be harmful if you consume it. Regardless of that consensus, we will be continuing to use bottled water until the problem is rectified by the City of Alexandria.

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