AWWA taste and odor survey

Abstract

A 1989 survey provides insights on how utilities perceive taste and odor problems in their water supplies, what treatment processes they use, and which processes they rated effective.A taste and odor questionnaire was sent to 826 water utilities. A total of 377 usable responses were received from across the United States and Alberta, Canada. Sixteen percent of the utilities considered their taste and odor problems to be serious, and 43 percent had experienced a taste and odor event lasting longer than one week. The major odor problems reported by the utilities were characterized as chlorine, earthy, fishy, and medicinal; major taste problems were reported as sour, metallic, and chlorine. There were differences between the taste and odor problems encountered by utilities treating groundwater and those treating surface water. Most utilities attributed taste and odor problems to the distribution system. In addition, groundwater plants identified the disinfectant used and mineral residuals as other sources of taste and odor problems. Surface water systems blamed plankton and decaying vegetation in the influent water, the disinfectant used, and conditions at reservoirs.