Control of taste and odor in source waters

By Matt Huddleston, Ph.D. (Posted Jan. 5, 2018):

When algae grow so much that taste and odor are problematic, water resource managers often intervene. Many employ adaptive water resource management.

Surface water provides potable water for most citizens in the United States. Although about 90 percent of the public water systems in the U.S. obtain their water from wells, groundwater systems tend to be much smaller than those served by surface waters. Surface waters supply about 66 percent of the potable water consumed.

Periodically, surface waters can be plagued by taste and odor problems. The two most commonly measured taste and odor compounds in water are geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB). Those compounds are naturally occurring and produced by cyanobacteria, diatoms, and filamentous bacteria that may or may not grow to bloom densities in water sufficient to cause taste and odor problems.

In sufficient concentrations, MIB and geosmin are responsible for the earthy smell and “off” flavors in drinking water and fish. The human nose can detect geosmin at concentrations as low as 5 to10 parts per trillion (ng/L) of water. Although geosmin and MIB are not known to be a public health problem, the taste and smell sensitivity of consumers can lead to complaints and concern about water quality.

When algae grow to the extent that taste and odor become problematic, water resource managers are often compelled to intervene. Many managers employ adaptive water resource management consisting of the following steps and considerations:
1. Problem definition. Determine the intensity, frequency, and location of taste and odor compounds and their producers, as well as define the internal and external capabilities for addressing the problem.
2. Plan development. Develop a strategy to reduce and control taste and odor compounds. The plan may include where and how to treat taste and odor producers, obtaining permits, and securing contractors with specific capabilities, experience, and credentials.
3. Strategic monitoring. Measure responses of target algae, considering safety for non-target species; evaluate the durability of a treatment for future planning.
4. Economics. Consider cost, return on investment, and savings associated with water resource management options.

SynTerra applied an adaptive management strategy for controlling taste and odor in source water of the Anderson Regional Joint Water System (ARJWS), a partnership of rural and municipal water districts providing high-quality, clean, safe, reliable, economical flow of treated water to customers in Anderson and Pickens counties in South Carolina. The ARJWS water treatment plant is supplied by surface water from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hartwell Lake, a 55,900-acre reservoir bordering Upstate South Carolina and Georgia.
With MIB concentrations of greater than 2,000 parts per trillion in Hartwell Lake in the summer of 2014, SynTerra, in conjunction with university partners, developed an algaecide application plan for approximately 160 acres of the lake. A management strategy was implemented in 2015, targeting specific areas of the lake with prescribed algaecide applications. Since initiating 2015 algaecide applications, taste and odor have been controlled in ARJWS source water while protecting valued Hartwell Lake aquatic resources.
Although every situation is different and constantly changing, an adaptive water management approach such as that employed for ARJWS can effectively manage challenges associated with nuisance algae.

Kathy Webb, P.G.

Senior Market Leader | Principal

Kathy, a founder of SynTerra (previously The Fletcher Group) in 1992, has completed remedial investigations and regulatory compliance projects associated with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) facilities, state and federal Superfund sites, solid waste landfills, brownfield redevelopment, utility coal combustion residual (CCR) management units, and regulated industrial facilities. She has supported litigation as an expert witness related to chlorinated solvents, metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Kathy is known for her practical assessment strategy with the perspective of the client’s business objectives. She routinely evaluates groundwater corrective action systems for effectiveness and progress toward achieving compliance objectives. She has also co-authored a trade journal paper with case studies of low-impact remedial strategies. Kathy is a licensed Professional Geologist in North and South Carolina.

Mark Taylor, P.G.

Principal

Mark has worked more than 40 years in natural-resource based industries. His expertise includes mine geology and mine engineering, hydrogeologic and geotechnical investigations, solid and hazardous waste management, and regulatory negotiations. He has published peer-reviewed papers about coal geology, ore geochemistry, mineralogy, and solid waste management. He is a leading expert in mining and environmental permitting for litigation support.

Mark is licensed as a Professional Geologist in South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Washington. He serves on the boards of the Upstate Red Cross and Upstate Forever. He served on the South Carolina Board of Registration for Geologists for six years. Mark holds a Master’s degree in Geological Sciences from The University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Science from Harvard University.

Andrea Kehn, P.E.

Vice President of Engineering | Principal

Andrea, leader of our Civil & Environmental Engineering Business Unit, has 28 years of experience in chemical manufacturing and environmental consulting. She leads and supervises staff professionals on multidisciplinary projects for a variety of industrial clients. Andrea’s vast experience and expertise includes: air quality construction and operating permitting; air quality modeling; air permit record-keeping and reporting; Oil Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP); NPDES Permitting; water quality modeling; process safety management; risk management compliance and auditing; and RCRA compliance.

Andrea is registered as a Professional Engineer in South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Ruth Albright, P.E.

Vice President | Principal

Ruth has led projects for major industrial facilities throughout the Southeast and beyond. She built her knowledge of environmental regulations and their application to manufacturing operations while working for the second largest chemical manufacturing company in the United States. At SynTerra, she has expanded both her knowledge and reputation working for chemical manufacturing operations of all sizes. She has also worked extensively with other manufacturing operations, including pulp and paper, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals, food, and automotive parts and assembly. Her experience includes air and wastewater permit compliance, solid and hazardous waste management, solid waste construction permitting, hazardous materials transportation, wastewater treatment systems, air pollution control equipment operations and maintenance, and ambient air monitoring systems.

Ruth is a professional engineer registered in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Michigan, Arkansas, and Kentucky. She is an active member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Environmental Technical Committee and serves as the chair of the water subcommittee. She has previously served as the program and committee chair for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs committee. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.