KC Water says funky tap taste is temporary — and safe
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The city's water treatment facility north of North Kansas City, near Briarcliff. Photo: Jackson Overstreet/KC Water
If your tap water smells strange or tastes a little off, you're not imagining it but it's not a safety issue, according to KC Water.
Why it matters: Heavy rain and flooding along the Grand and Platte rivers sent a surge of runoff into the Missouri River — Kansas City's primary water source.
- That changed the river's makeup and introduced more organic material, which can affect the taste and smell of drinking water.
What they're saying: "When those rivers overflow, everything in those basins is coming our way, like decaying leaves and soil," said Jarrek Lucke, KC Water's utility manager of operations.
- KC Water adjusted its treatment process by increasing the amount of carbon and other disinfectants — but that can also strip out natural minerals, making the chlorine taste more noticeable.
- "It's not harmful," Lucke said. "It's just more present on the palate than usual."
The bottom line: The changes should resolve within a few days and as conditions upstream settle. KC Water says its lab is monitoring the system in real-time, and the water remains fully compliant with health and safety standards.
- If you notice anything unusual or have concerns, call 311 to report it directly to KC Water's lab.