Salem now pre-treating water after algae health alerts

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Salem’s drinking water advisory is over, and the city is taking steps to try to prevent future advisories that warned that the young and sick shouldn’t use area tap water.

The first advisory was issued after the city learned toxins linked to an algae bloom were detected in Salem’s drinking water.

KATU reports that on Wednesday, the city’s “powdered activated carbon system” came online.

The city will use that to treat water at the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility and reduce toxins that are present. The water will then continue on through its normal filtration process.