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November 27, 2025
Indianapolis residents battle seasonal algae taste in tap water during summer and fall months, but effective filtration solutions can eliminate the problem permanently.
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The earthy taste and smell is a seasonal issue, with recent rain and heat creating good conditions for algae growth. Indianapolis draws water from multiple sources that are particularly vulnerable during warmer months.
Indianapolis Water traced algae taste to reservoirs near Muncie, with blue-green algae blooms traveling south into the White River, typically found in mid to late summer at Eagle Creek, Geist and Morse reservoirs, but occurring earlier due to unusually warm weather. This type of contamination is particularly pronounced after heavy rainfall or in warmer seasons when biological activity in water bodies peaks.
The problem affects different areas at different times. Citizens Energy Group receives calls from customers in ZIP codes 46220, 46240 and 46250 on the city’s north side who taste and smell the problem.
Blue-green algae produces a compound that affects the taste and odor of water, giving it that earthy, musty smell and taste in some cases. The taste descriptions from Indianapolis residents paint a clear picture of the problem’s severity.
Some residents describe their water tasting “chemically, like cleaning solution”, while others report different variations. One resident noted that “at first it wasn’t as potent, and then as I started drinking it more out of my tap, then I started to make a face — I was like ‘What is this? It tastes weird'”.
Local restaurant owners have also noticed the impact on their businesses. One restaurateur described it as “very swampy” and said “I think yesterday I got more like dirt. You know it was like dirty pond,” noting that customers contacted him thinking his restaurant had bad water.
The taste problem extends beyond just drinking water. Foul-smelling and tasting water in Indianapolis doesn’t just stop at the tap; it extends into every ice cube produced, significantly impacting businesses where ice is a critical component. This means the algae taste affects everything from your morning coffee to restaurant beverages throughout the affected areas.
Although municipal water treatment plants work to make surface water sources safe before distributing tap water, their process usually isn’t able to completely remove the taste and odor from the algae blooms themselves, and if your tap water has a musty smell this summer, there’s a good chance that high algae levels are to blame.
Understanding which water sources feed your neighborhood helps explain why some areas experience algae taste more severely than others. In Indianapolis, the primary sources include White River and Fall Creek as major surface water sources supplying treatment plants, with Morse Reservoir and Geist Reservoir providing additional water for the White River and Fall Creek plants.
Citizens said the water comes from the Fall Creek Treatment Plant, which serves many of the affected northeast Indianapolis neighborhoods. Hamilton County contains both Morse Reservoir and Geist Reservoir, which were created for drinking water sources, but have also become popular for recreation.
The geographic layout of Indianapolis water infrastructure means that different neighborhoods receive water from different treatment plants and source combinations. The discolored water with a bad taste and odor affects some of Indianapolis water’s one million central Indiana customers, specifically the 700,000 who get their drinking water from the White River.
Surface water sources face particular challenges during algae bloom seasons. Lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, sources of much of our drinking water, often accumulate organic materials such as leaves, soil, and algae, and when these natural elements decompose, they can release compounds into the water that not only affect its appearance and taste but also its odor, frequently imparting a musty or fishy smell.
Hamilton County residents using well water face different but related challenges. Hamilton County well water presents different challenges, with iron concentrations often exceeding 3 parts per million, creating a metallic taste and orange staining, while sulfur bacteria produces that distinctive “rotten egg” smell, and hard water minerals damage appliances and create soap scum buildup.
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Not all water filters handle algae-related taste and odor problems effectively. The type of filtration system you need depends on the specific algae compounds affecting your water supply.
The best way to get rid of algae in drinking water is with a water filter, and the type of water filter required will depend on the type of algae. Activated carbon is effective and can resolve taste and odor issues, while reverse osmosis, nanofiltration and ultrafiltration will remove single-cell cyanobacteria, and possibly the resulting cyanotoxins.
Professional water treatment companies understand which systems work best for Indianapolis conditions. We have tested enough Indianapolis water to know exactly what residents are dealing with, and every system we install is designed specifically for the water conditions in your neighborhood.
Activated carbon filtration represents the most effective first-line defense against algae taste and odor in Indianapolis water. For other types of algae, an activated carbon filter will take care of it, making this technology particularly suitable for the seasonal taste issues affecting Indianapolis residents.
Activated carbon filters are used in drinking water treatments to adsorb natural organic compounds, taste and odor compounds, and synthetic organic chemicals, and can be effective in reducing hundreds of impurities, including contaminants and other chemicals from tap water. The effectiveness comes from the unique properties of activated carbon material.
Activated carbon has been processed to have an incredibly large surface area – a single teaspoon of granular activated carbon has the area of a football field, and a single pound is equivalent to 125 acres, and as water moves through the carbon filter, impurities bond with the carbon, which reduces tastes and odors often found in tap water.
Activated carbon filters are champions in removing organic compounds and chlorine, improving the taste and odor of water, and are also adept at reducing toxic heavy metals, providing a safer drinking option for families. For Indianapolis residents dealing with both algae taste and chlorine issues, this dual benefit makes activated carbon an excellent choice.
High-quality carbon water filters can remove 99.99% of chlorine, and these reverse osmosis filters effectively remove the taste and odor from drinking water. This is particularly important for Indianapolis water, which contains chlorine for disinfection but creates additional taste issues when combined with algae compounds.
The maintenance requirements for carbon filtration make it practical for most homeowners. A significant strength lies in the filter lifespan, as contrary to other filtration methods, activated carbon filters have a longer life, reducing the maintenance frequency, meaning homeowners won’t have to worry about frequent filter changes.
When algae problems persist or you want the most comprehensive water treatment available, reverse osmosis systems provide the highest level of contaminant removal. For blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) – which is actually a bacteria, not algae – nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, or reverse osmosis is best.
Reverse osmosis purifies water by removing approximately 97% of contaminants, making it a popular choice for restaurants, homes, and businesses that require exceptionally clean drinking water. This level of filtration ensures that even the most persistent algae-related compounds are eliminated from your water supply.
Reverse osmosis removes 99% of dissolved solids including lead, chlorine, fluoride, bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals, and also eliminates the chlorine taste and odor that’s common in Indianapolis municipal water, with the multi-stage filtration process handling both chemical contaminants and biological threats that can show up in local water supplies.
The technology works by forcing water through multiple filtration stages. The system includes a pre-filter to remove sediment and particulate that can ruin the filter, a membrane that separates out the water from the non-water, and a post-filter that handles the taste and odor part of the system.
The difference between reverse osmosis and carbon filtration is that size matters, with reverse osmosis systems able to filter down to .001 micron, which is a 500x size difference in capacity compared to carbon filters. This microscopic filtration level ensures that algae cells and related compounds cannot pass through the system.
For Indianapolis homeowners, reverse osmosis offers particular advantages during algae season. RO systems are particularly effective at removing lead, which has been a concern in some Indianapolis neighborhoods with older plumbing infrastructure, addressing multiple water quality concerns simultaneously.
The investment in reverse osmosis pays for itself through eliminated bottled water costs. Most Indianapolis homeowners find that an RO system pays for itself within the first year when factoring in what they’re currently spending on bottled water, especially during seasonal algae periods when many families switch to bottled water entirely.
Seasonal algae taste in Indianapolis tap water doesn’t have to disrupt your family’s daily routine or force you to rely on expensive bottled water. The right filtration system eliminates algae taste permanently while addressing other local water quality concerns like chlorine and aging infrastructure contamination.
Professional water treatment starts with understanding your specific water conditions. Professional water testing analyzes for chlorine, sediment, pH levels, and other contaminants specific to Indianapolis water supplies, and the results tell exactly what your water needs. This targeted approach ensures you get the right system for your neighborhood’s particular challenges.
We specialize in salt-free, eco-friendly water treatment systems designed specifically for Indianapolis and Hamilton County water conditions. Our local expertise, combined with made-in-USA systems and comprehensive warranties, provides the reliable solution you need to enjoy great-tasting water year-round, regardless of seasonal algae blooms.
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