W   TASTE AND ODOR

What causes unpleasant taste and odor in the water?
During certain times of the year, algae that has been growing in lakes and river tributaries dies off releasing compounds that cause taste and odor in the water.  Geosmin and MIB are the two main compounds that affect WaterOne’s source water, the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. 

·      Is the water safe when there are unpleasant tastes and odors in it?
While these compounds give off unpleasant tastes and odors, they don’t cause health issues.  The water remains safe to drink.  WaterOne has a multi-barrier water treatment process that includes sedimentation, activated carbon, chlorine dioxide, lime-softening, chlorination, and filtration.  Water quality is measured continuously 24 hours a day every day of the year to ensure the treatment process is producing safe water.

·      What does WaterOne do about the unpleasant tastes and odors?
WaterOne monitors for taste and odors daily.  WaterOne feeds activated carbon, which is effective at removing Geosmin and MIB, and adjusts the dose depending on the strength of the taste and odor.   There are rare occurrences when the taste and odor compounds on the river are so strong that feeding enough activated carbon to remove all the taste and odor is not possible.  In these situations, depending on circumstances, WaterOne has the option of switching between water sources.

More information can also be found here.