PITTSVILLE, Md. - Some residents in the Wicomico County town of Pittsville say the water coming from their taps doesn’t smell right and in some cases, they say it's so bad, even their pets won’t drink it.
Homeowner Bruce Coffin says the odor is a regular issue in his household.
“If I were to wash my face, I’d get a sulfur or chlorine smell in my mouth,” Coffin told WBOC. “You spit it out quick.”
While the water currently appears clear, neighbors report frequent odors. Social media posts in recent weeks have sparked a renewed focus on water quality in the town, with residents sharing concerns including discolored laundry and stained fixtures.
Coffin says he’s considering moving because of the issue.
“I’ve got new T-shirts at home from Hanes, nice shirts,” he said. “They’re half yellow after just three washes.”
Back in 2019, some residents experienced brown, discolored water, which town officials at the time attributed to a broken part in the water system.
Regarding the current concerns, Town Commission President Sean McHugh tells WBOC that while there have been no formal complaints filed recently, some residents did bring up the issue during the town’s most recent monthly meeting.
McHugh emphasized that chlorine levels are within safe limits set by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).
“The quarterly water report stated that the detectable chlorine levels were below the established MDE maximum levels leaving our water treatment facility, and they were above the minimum detectable chlorine levels at the furthest point in our system,” he said.
Pittsville is currently undergoing a large-scale upgrade and refurbishment of its water treatment plant. The project is funded through a combination of MDE grants, loans, and block grant funds. Officials say the only change so far has been to the rate and duration of water withdrawal from the town’s wells, not the treatment process itself.
McHugh encouraged any concerned residents to reach out.
“We encourage any resident that has questions about the treated water that leaves their tap to contact town hall at 410-835-8872,” he said. “A representative will schedule a time convenient for the resident to have their water tested from their tap inside of their residence.”
Resident Melissa Cooper hopes more people speak up.
“I would file a complaint,” she said. “I know quite a few people that have told me they have the same problems. I figured they would probably fix them by now.”