Residents in Beaumont, Alberta, might notice a different taste and smell in their tap water as spring runoff begins to affect the local supply on March 24, 2026. The EPCOR utility company says the water remains completely safe to drink and continues to meet all federal health guidelines.
The changes happen every year when melting snow flows into the North Saskatchewan River, which provides water for the City of Beaumont. This runoff carries dirt and decaying plants into the river, which can give the water a musty or earthy scent.
To manage these seasonal changes, treatment teams add powdered activated carbon to help remove odours. They also slightly increase chlorine levels to treat organic materials, which may cause the water to have a stronger chlorine taste for a short time.
Utility experts expect the smell to fade within three to five days as river conditions become more stable. Local water quality is monitored 24 hours a day, and a group of 300 volunteers provides daily feedback on the taste of the water to help the company manage the treatment process.
