UPDATED Potable Water Notice

Geosmin is a harmless, naturally occurring compound produced by bacteria in soil and algae found in surface water (lakes, rivers, streams, dams). Geosmin produces an earthy, musty-type odour/taste, like that of overturned rich soils, and is present in foods such as beets, spinach, and mushrooms. Geosmin is NOT the result of pollution or contamination of our source waters and is not a result of a failure of treatment processes. It occurs through a natural process..

Recent changes in source water quality, water levels, and through natural processes, including increased pH and organic carbon, combined with warm temperatures can promote algal growth, which can lead to the production of geosmin.

All customers In the Town of Magarath and Cardston County that recieve water from the Magrath and District Regional Water Services Commission and Jensen Reservoir  are effected

While the taste and odour can be unpleasant, geosmin is not harmful. The water remains safe to drink. On-going testing continues to show an absence of harmful bacteria and other pathogens in the water.

It is not possible to predict the onset of an incidence of geosmin, or how long it will last. Geosmin compounds have been shown to remain in lakes and reservoirs for days to months. It is expected the concentration of geosmin will fluctuate during the coming weeks/months, however, we are not able to predict the duration based on historical trends. It is antcipated that both colder temperatures and percipitation would provide a change.

The human nose is extremely sensitive to geosmin. If you poured a teaspoon of geosmin into the equivalent of 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools, you would still be able to smell it. Heating the water increases the volatility of these compounds, which explains why the smell is more easily detected when you are in the shower or when used for hot beverages.

The Magrath and District Regional Water Services Commission engaged a private, third party accredited laboratory to provide testing for geosmin and continues to follow a rigourous protocol of regular monitoring of both the raw and treated waters from source waters. On-going testing continues to show an absence of harmful bacteria and other pathogens in the water. The water remains safe to drink.

Geosmin is not removed by conventional water treatment processes used by the Magrath and District Regional Water Services Commission at the water treatment facility.

There are several proven treatment technologies for removing geosmin from drinking water including granular or powdered activated carbon; oxidation with ozone or advanced oxidation processes (AOPs); biofiltration; or some combination of each. 

The source water changes that we have experienced over the past year caused by drought are unprecidented and it remains to be seen if the occurance of geosim in the water supply will reoccur 

Geosmin is common in many jurisdictions across Canada, the United States, and elsewhere in the world.