ISLAND BOUQUET RESERVOIR DRAINED BY DWP.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

SAUGUS - The Bouquet Reservoir north of Santa Clarita has been drained as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power repairs a valve and completes an investigation, officials said Monday.

The project began late last month and will likely take 60 days to complete, said DWP spokeswoman Carol Tucker.

``After the project is completed the reservoir will be filled again,'' Tucker said.

As a result of the project, however, San Fernando Valley residents have reported a musty smell in their water.

``When we lowered the water levels, there happened to be an algae bloom, making the odor unpleasant,'' Tucker said.

Last week, the DWP issued a statement assuring customers in the San Fernando Valley, West Los Angeles and Central Los Angeles that their drinking water posed no health risk, despite the unpleasant taste and odor caused by the algae bloom occurring.

Blue-green algae called anaebena produces a nontoxic, odorous compound known as geosmin, according to the DWP. While unpleasant, the taste and odor issues are naturally occurring and pose no health risks. The DWP suggests to refrigerate water to help improve the taste and odor. Water from the Bouquet Reservoir flows south through the Los Angeles Aqueduct to the Los Angeles Aqueduct Filtration Plant for purification prior to distribution.

``We anticipate that the problems should start to subside,'' James G. Yannotta, manager of operations for the DWP, said in a statement. ``Within the next few weeks the taste and odor should be back to normal.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color in AV edition only) Small islands emerge as the Department of Water and Power drains Bouquet Reservoir to repair a valve.

David Crane/Staff Photographer