Strange odor coming from tap water in South Bay

MILPITAS, Calif. (KGO) -- If you live between Milpitas, San Jose and Mountain View, you may notice something funny with your tap water Wednesday morning.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District says the dirt-like odor you smell is coming from algae.

It's blooming in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, where the district gets more than half its water.

Officials say the algae is nothing to be worried about. It's just that our noses are very sensitive to a substance it produces.

"Our water is still safe. It's still healthy. If people do detect odor or taste, they can chill water. That will help mitigate it," Santa Clara Valley Water District official Colleen Valles said.

An upgrade to the treatment plant where the smelly water is coming from will eventually eliminate the algae.

The water district doesn't know how long the stink will last.