ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The drought has changed the drinking water blend, increasing mineral levels that cause hard water which can lead to rust colored water and stains, according to St. Petersburg Public Works Administrator Claude Tankersley.
“Our normal blend changed when the drought came, because then during the drought, we had less water that we could get from the surface,” he said. “So we had to pull up more water from the ground. And groundwater has more minerals in it.”
Tankersley said the minerals from the aquifer include calcium and magnesium. He said they are safe to consume but contribute to water hardness…