Every year as outside temperatures change seasonally lakes and other bodies of water “turn over” whereby the organic materials which naturally accumulate on the bottom of the lake rise to the top. Although all bodies of water “turn over”, it is those lakes which are used for human water supply which challenge all water treatment operators to produce clean and safe water while dealing with the seasonal taste and odor complaints which result from the lake “turning over”.

Due to the recent abundant rainfalls which filled both Lake Frederick and Tom Steed Reservoir to capacity and beyond after being at extremely low levels, an extra quantity of organic material has been present in the raw water causing normal water treatment processes to not deal with taste and odor issues as effectively as usual. The Frederick Water utility has responded to the present situation as follows: