Why does the water taste sometimes?

The City of Thief River Falls processes water from the Red Lake River. During periods of high flow, more organic material is in the water. This material causes taste to the water. The 1993 remodel of the water treatment plant included a 250,000-gallon pre-sedimentation basin. The water has chemicals added to treat taste and odor as the water flows into the basin. This basin operation has allowed for the removal of taste and odor that was not possible in the 1951 plant process. A sudden change in water quality may cause a taste, however, most changes in water quality are measured by the operators and chemicals adjusted to remove the taste from the water.