Taste and odor (T&O) events in municipal drinking water occur as a result of algae blooms in surface water sources. When algae die, chemicals such as geosmin or 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) are released and cause the water to taste and smell earthy, musty, swampy, or grassy. These same algae blooms can release potent toxins to the water (“algal toxins”). Concentrations as low as 10 parts per trillion (ppt) or less of certain contaminants are enough to impart an unpleasant taste and odor to drinking water. With increased public awareness of contaminants in drinking water and growing evidence that the public associates off-tastes and odors with the presence of harmful contaminants, water providers are increasingly looking to remove T&O. T&O-causing contaminants such as MIB and geosmin are difficult to remove with conventional technologies.

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