Strange Taste in Your Hudson Valley Water? You’re Not Alone

Several towns in the Hudson Valley have been tasting something strange in their water, and one local government just confirmed the reason for the sudden change.

The weather this year in New York has been a rollercoaster, with nonstop rain in the first half of 2025 followed by dangerous heatwaves in the heights of summer. Now, another phenomenon is affecting drinking water in several counties.

"Strange" Tasting Water in Several Hudson Valley Towns

Residents who have reported the "strange" taste in their water might be from different counties, but they all share one thing in common: their drinking water is sourced from the Hudson River. One town government shared the water change has to do with river levels.

Hudson River Level Affecting Town Water Supplies

The Town of Lloyd recently took to Facebook to share an update from their water department. Specifically, they noted that a current drought affecting Hudson River water levels was also affecting the sodium content in local drinking water.

Current sodium levels as of 9:30 am 9/5/2025 have increased above 20 mg/L, this is an advisory level. Customers with health conditions that necessitate reduced sodium intake are advised to seek out alternative low sodium bottled water for their drinking water until further notice.

Increased Sodium in Water from the Town of Lloyd, NY

While droughts are usually associated with increased sulfur smells in tap water, it seems that several towns are instead experiencing increased salt. Anecdotal reports from residents in the Town of Poughkeepsie, who also get their water from the Hudson River, reported a saltier taste to their tap water as well.

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How Long Will the Hudson Valley Drought Continue?

Heavy rainfall across the region on Saturday wasn't enough to significantly increase water levels, and current forecasts show no additional precipitation in the coming week. Despite elevated sodium levels, the Town of Lloyd shared that the water is safe for anyone not on a restricted sodium diet.