Houston officials have fielded hundreds of calls from residents complaining about drinking water that has a foul odor and tastes like dirt.
Public Works officials say the tap water is safe to drink but many people are opting for bottled water instead.
The Houston Chronicle reports the city's 311 service line has received more than 200 complaints about the water since Friday.
City officials say the smell and taste are caused by two naturally occurring compounds produced by seasonal algae blooms. One of the compounds, geosmin, tends to occur following a rainfall after a period of dry weather.
More than 90 percent of the complaints came from the city's west side.
No action is being taken to correct the problem. Officials say the compounds should fade over time.
