'When's the water going to taste better?' is a question on many Wichita Falls residents' lips. Maybe by the end of the week appears to be the best guess from the city. Public Works Director Russell Schreiber said a 'perfect storm' of conditions has created the worst conditions in more than 20 years for water taste and smell.

During ending comments at a budget work session Wednesday morning, Councilor Tim Ingle said his family is wondering when the water is going to start tasting better.

Schreiber said he recently spoke with Daniel Nix, water and wastewater operations manager for the city, and Nix said in the decades he's been with this city, this past month has been about the most difficult time they have had with water taste and odor.

With lakes as a water source, it is common for variations in taste and smell of the water, especially during the hottest part of the year.

Schreiber said the area has never had water temperatures this hot for this long at any one time and it has caused a massive algae bloom at both water supply lakes. The algae bloom was worse at Lake Arrowhead so the city temporarily cut supply from that lake and now is pulling only from Lake Kickapoo. With this change and increased chemical treatment, Schreiber said they hope to see — and taste — improvement in the water conditions by the end of the week.

Water quality for health concerns is highly regulated Schreiber stressed, and the water, regardless of its yucky factor, is completely safe to drink and use.