Shreveport water department says algae bloom caused taste and odor; ozone fixed, copper sulfate due this week

Residents and council members pressed the city at the Shreveport City Council meeting about recent reports of discolored and foul‑smelling tap water. William Daniel, director of Water and Sewerage, said the problem is an unusual algae bloom in the lake caused by warmer-than-normal water and that the algae causes a taste and odor issue but is not harmful.

Daniel explained the plant treats algae with copper sulfate and oxidizes it with an ozone system to remove smell and taste. The city typically treats for algae March through October; an unexpected bloom in late December required additional copper sulfate, which was delayed by snow in South Texas. Daniel said the ozone system’s set points were incorrectly set at installation and that technicians corrected the settings; the copper sulfate shipment was expected to arrive this week.

Daniel told the council the issue is not consistent across the city because of distribution-system differences, and he estimated conditions should begin to improve within about a week once treatment resumes. Council members criticized the water department’s lack of early communication to residents; Councilmember Green urged staff to notify constituents when issues arise so residents and businesses know whether water is safe for consumption.

Mayor and council staff said a press release would be issued the same day to explain the situation and to reassure residents that the water is not harmful. The council also requested routine updates and clearer public notices when water‑quality issues emerge.