Water taste and odour at Campbell Town and Ross

TasWater has started specialist testing to find out if the taste in drinking water in Campbell Town and Ross has a similar cause to Hobart’s taste issues. This follows reports from eleven customers this week that their water tastes earthy and musty.

TasWater’s regular testing indicates the water meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and is safe to drink.

Drinking water in the two towns is sourced from the Elizabeth River and is treated at a water treatment plant at Campbell Town which was built and commissioned around two years ago.

Indications suggest the taste and odour may be related to conditions in the water catchment area.

“Although we won’t have the test results for several days, we are implementing a carbon dosing program to help reduce the earthy taste,” TasWater’s General Manager of Operations and Maintenance Glen Jameson said. “We hope to have this installed, tested and operational by mid next week.”

In recent months, the taste and smell of Hobart’s water supply has been affected by the presence of naturally occurring geosmin and Methyl-Isoborneol MIB in the raw water source, which is most likely caused by the development of an algal bloom in the water catchment. These events are more likely to occur during warmer months.

TasWater is closely monitoring the situation at Ross and Campbell Town and residents are asked to contact TasWater on 13 6992 to report taste and odour irregularities.
Simon Pilkington, TasWater