An algae bloom is being blamed for smelly water for utility customers in the Shenango Valley and beyond.

Consumers Pennsylvania Water Co. Shenango Valley Division received more than a dozen phone calls in recent days complaining of a foul odor, said Buzz Pishkur, president of Consumers Ohio-Pennsylvania Shenango Valley Division.

"We're taking water samples from homes and believe the slight taste and odor are coming from algae,'' Pishkur said. "This is not a health issue but is an issue on aesthetics to our customers, which we are addressing and hope to have it resolved in very short order.''