Smells in Odessa (Dallas, Abilene, Midland: attorney, buy, utilities)

[jcsm]

I have spoke to several people and have been told that Odessa's Air and Water has a horrible smell to it (like rotten eggs). I was also told I would need to drink bottled water and/or have a very heavy duty water filter installed. That this is caused by the oil fields. What does anyone know about this.

[Lucidus]

Originally Posted by jcsm

I have spoke to several people and have been told that Odessa's Air and Water has a horrible smell to it (like rotten eggs). I was also told I would need to drink bottled water and/or have a very heavy duty water filter installed. That this is caused by the oil fields. What does anyone know about this.

Yes, the oilfield can produce bad smells. It is not always there, in fact most of the time you will not smell anything, but sometimes in certain places there will be a sulfurous(rotten eggs) smell.

The water is fine to drink but it does contain calcium carbonate with gives it a slightly cloudy appearance. A lot of people do buy filters or bottled water for this reason, but in my opinion they are wasting money. Most bottled water is just some other city's tap water, and the people there probably complain the tap water as well, so...well draw your own conclusions.

The water has this mineral content because it is just surface water collected in reservoirs. The oilfield really has nothing to do with it. Some people do have well water however and it is possible that oilfield operations may be souring their wells.

[tgannaway89]

I greatly dislike the taste of Odessa tap water! Smells bad? Smells like money to me, lol.

[blitzen]

the water is NOT fine. i know someone in the treatment plant. dont drink it if youre on the west or south side. they "fix" the samples so it tests ok but its not ok to drink. smells like money? how shallow. smells like coliform to me. what does that mean? google it. then see if youre willing to drink it.

[Lucidus]

Originally Posted by blitzen

the water is NOT fine. i know someone in the treatment plant. dont drink it if youre on the west or south side. they "fix" the samples so it tests ok but its not ok to drink. smells like money? how shallow. smells like coliform to me. what does that mean? google it. then see if youre willing to drink it.

The west and south side get water from the same source as the rest of the city and other cities in the area, unless you are talking about well water in which case quality will vary depending on the individual well. Most of the water comes from the Colorado River Municipal Water District. It serves Odessa, Big Spring, Snyder, Midland, San Angelo, Abilene, Stanton, Robert Lee, Grandfalls, and Pyote.

Colorado River Municipal Water District

"Smells like money" refers to the oil field related odors which are not harmful. Odessa and Midland have some of the cleanest air of any metro areas in the nation.

You are making some serious allegations about the water though, do you have any evidence to back up what you are saying? According to you, there is not only a problem, but also a criminal conspiracy to cover it up. If there actually is a problem with contamination in certain areas of the city and you can demonstrate it, then I would suggest notifying the appropriate state or federal authorities.

[blitzen]

out of curiosity....lets say i do have proof of this. who would the appropriate state or federal authorities be? ive looked and looked and im not sure where to go with this.

[Lucidus]

Originally Posted by blitzen

out of curiosity....lets say i do have proof of this. who would the appropriate state or federal authorities be? ive looked and looked and im not sure where to go with this.

I would probably start with the State Attorney General's office. They may not be the right agency to call but they can will most likely know who you do need to call.

Texas Attorney General

[tgannaway89]

Doesn't the city publish an annual water quality report? If so, I am sure it would be available online somewhere.

ADD - Just a quick search and I found the 2004 report - http://odessa-tx.gov/public/utilities/04waterreport.pdf

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by jcsm

I have spoke to several people and have been told that Odessa's Air and Water has a horrible smell to it (like rotten eggs). I was also told I would need to drink bottled water and/or have a very heavy duty water filter installed. That this is caused by the oil fields. What does anyone know about this.

My bf is originally from Odessa...he says it smells like a f@rt but that you don't notice the smell after a few hours.

[Lucidus]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

My bf is originally from Odessa...he says it smells like a f@rt but that you don't notice the smell after a few hours.

Yeah it smells at first, but according to a recent report by the American Lung Association Midland/Odessa is one of the cleanest metro areas in the country for short term and long term air pollution. So its better for you to breath than the air in Dallas.