Californians detect an unpleasant taste of tap water, it is a substance released by dead bacteria, officials suggest adding lemon juice or chilling the water in the refrigerator for a few minutes
Photo: Baudolino / Pixabay
Thursday, November 7
Officials Explain Reasons for “Earthy” Taste of California Tap Water
Sacramento residents have reported that the tap water they drink has an earthy or musty taste and odor. The unpleasant taste of water is due to a greater presence of organic materials in the rivers where water is collected as a result of the drought in the region.
“ People can detect one of those natural compounds, called geosmin , in extremely low concentrations. Geosmin is also the compound that makes the air smell like dirt after it rains, ”said City Water Quality Superintendent Mark Severeid via Sacramento City Express
The American Council on Science and Health describes geosmin as “ a chemical released by dead microbes (commonly Streptomyces bacteria) ”. Human noses are 200. 000 times more sensitive to geosmin than a shark to blood.
Approximately 80 percent of Sacramento’s water supply comes from the Sacramento and American rivers and they are generating more organic materials as their levels are lower and water temperatures are higher.
This situation with water is usually expected in late summer or early fall but dry conditions are advancing the situation.
The water is safe to drink
Geosmin and methyl isoborneol are explained on the City of Sacramento website natural compounds responsible for this strong s earthy matter but they are not toxic or harmful .
It is also indicated that water treatment neutralizes bacteria responsible for the creation of these compounds, but does not remove the compounds themselves . Future improvements and expansions of Sacramento’s water treatment plants could remove these compounds.
It is suggested that if people find the taste unpleasant, they can cool the water or add lemon to help decrease a musty or earthy taste.
The drought worsens
California will continue to experience drier conditions and increased water loss due to climate change.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared in May a drought emergency in 30 counties, which represents the 30 percent of the state’s population. Including Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and Tulare Lake Watershed counties. There was a call was made to residents, farmers and businesses to find ways to conserve water.
It was indicated that the early warm temperatures induced by climate change and extremely dry soils have further depleted water of expected runoff from the Sierra-Cascade snowpack, resulting in historic and unexpected reductions in the amount of water flowing into the major reservoirs, especially on the Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Lake and Tulare Basin Counties.
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