“The taste and smell of tap water can be altered, but there is no impact on the potability of the water. It is not harmful in any way “, assures Lionel Turpin, Deputy Director General of Chartres Métropole Eau.
“The problem concerns some districts located at the end of the water distribution network in Mainvilliers, Saint-Prest, Lèves and Champhol”, according to Lionel Turpin.
For almost two weeks, some inhabitants of the conurbation of Chartres have felt a particular taste or smell in the water of their taps. “The water also has a less translucent color than usual,” says Kyllian Mirronet, an interested resident.
“This discomfort for the inhabitants concerned is due to the presence of the geosmin”, describes the deputy director general. This harmless bacterium can be created by a microalgae or by an organic molecule present in the water which the treatment transforms into odorous compounds.
“This is why citizens can notice an altered smell and an earthy taste present in the water. “
A processing plant closed
To avoid this inconvenience, Aqualter and Chartres Métropole Eau, companies that manage the public drinking water service, have changed their resources and the point of treatment. “We have interrupted the distribution of water from the Lèves water treatment plant, to stop the inconvenience suffered by some. We now take water from the Eure pumping station in Trois-Ponts in Chartres and from groundwater through wells near the city. This water is now only treated by the denitrification unit in La Saussaye and by the water treatment plant, located on rue des Reservoirs, in Chartres.
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Hundreds of calls …
Operating companies as well as municipalities received a total of around 100 calls from interested residents. “Seven people called. We redirected them to Chartres Métropole Eau, “says the Champhol city hall. In Saint-Prest there are” five to ten phone calls a day on this subject. The technicians are eliminating the system. “We have already found a satisfying taste for a week. “says Lionel Turpin.
Another unusual element, the detachment of a biofilm in the tubes. “It may have created lower pressure at the tap, but it’s a very small amount of material and the consequences remain minimal. “
And a strengthening of the control protocol
Chartres Métropole Eau will now plan maintenance and improvement actions before restarting the Lèves plant.
“Our usual processes are already in motion and have stopped this disruption. We will take some time to improve the system with improved automation, metering, pumping and substrate renewal systems. “
“A fire hydrant has been opened and is flowing to purge the piping and the distribution system of the network,” we learn from the town hall of Saint-Prest. “When we change the resource point, we increase the chlorine level to avoid any other inconvenience. We will restart the Lèves factory step by step after the complete cleaning of the system and its improvement. ”
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