What Causes Taste and Odor Problems in Drinking Water?
The types of odors in drinking water are directly related to the compounds present in the source water. Groundwater that is rich in salts and minerals often possess undesirable odors. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a dissolved gas which is characterized by a rotten egg odor, is also a common odor causing compound. Recently, chemical dumping, landfill disposal, and agricultural and industrial activities have contaminated groundwater supplies, increasing odor problems in drinking water. For example, phenolic or medicinal odors can often be detected in drinking water that originates from industrial rivers. The most significant source of odor in water supplies, however, is the growth and decay of microorganisms in surface water. Blue-green algae, green algae, diatoms, and flagellates are the four algae groups responsible for the most common odor complaints. Geosmin is an odor causing metabolite produced by blue-green algae, which possess an earthy, musty smell. Moldlike bacteria called actinomyce
