FRANKLIN, Tenn. -
Franklin city officials hoping a new piece of technology will help prevent unpleasant smelling and tasting water for some residents.
According to Franklin's city manager Eric Stuckey, the foul water is caused when the city treats algae growing in the reservoir system.
To help combat the problem, the city has installed a solar powered water circulator in the middle of the reservoir.
The device is meant to get the water moving, which makes it more difficult for the algae to form.
"It's not bad for health, it doesn't get us in any violation of regulatory standards or anything like that, but it does change taste and odor," Stuckey said.
Also in an effort to combat the problem, the city is covering standing water in the treatment plant with pieces of material in an effort to block out sunlight to prevent algae from growing.
"One of the things we know is there's no silver bullet, there's no magic way to just make it go away or everybody would do it," Stuckey said.
Nashville's News 2 spoke with families in the Hunters Chase subdivision on Friday regarding the water problem.
Many residents said this is the second year in a row their water has been affected.
"To me, it's a metal taste, that's what I told my husband that it tasted like metal. That it affected my coffee, even," homeowner Kathy James said.
The city hopes the changes they have made at the treatment plant, along with new technology in the reservoir will keep the algae at bay so residents can enjoy water straight from the tap.
"Unfortunately, we can't make any promises on timing, because it's also driven by weather and we've got some hot weather forecasted, a pretty extended period of that ahead, so we don't know if that will affect us anymore as we go forward," Stuckey said.
City officials remind residents the water is safe to drink.
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