Algae

Odor in N.O. drinking water being caused by algae

"The musty odor some New Orleans residents have been tasting in their drinking water is being caused by an algae problem in the Mississippi River, the Sewerage and Water Board said Tuesday.

"Board officials said the water is safe to drink and contains no algae but they said the unusual taste will not go away until river conditions improve."

You ever open a bag of potting soil and smell that rich, dirt smell? That's what the water tastes like. Even running it through a filter at home doesn't help.