Written by Amanda Angulo
Water in Sacramento is no stranger to an off taste, as it often experiences that in the late summer and early fall when water levels are at their lowest. However, there have been recent complaints by residents of Sacramento of the water tasting “earthy”, much sooner than expected.
This is a direct result of rivers, reservoirs, and streams drying up all throughout California, which produces an increase in the concentration of geosmin (an organic compound that gives the soil a musty taste and odor) in drinking water.
Yet, Sacramento officials are claiming that it’s safe to drink. In fact, the city’s utilities spokesperson, Carlos Eliason, stated, “the earthy taste that some of our customers are experiencing is harmless and can be neutralized by adding some lemon or putting it in the refrigerator.”
Although it is unclear how much the geosmin concentration can get in the next coming months, it is likely that it will increase.
California officials have announced on Thursday that they will likely have to shut down the Edward Hyatt Power plant for the first time since 1967, when it first opened, due to water quickly depleting at Lake Oroville, the state’s second-largest reservoir.
Gov. Newsom declared a drought emergency in May in 41 of 58 counties, roughly 30% of California. State officials are urging residents, businesses, and farmers to try to conserve water. Also, the State Water Resources Control Board sent out a notice a couple of weeks ago about the lack of water availability for water rights holders in Sacramento-San Joaquin. Therefore, they urged people in the sectors of environmental, agricultural, municipal, and recreation to preserve water and meet the demands for the current and next year.
“Effects like the change in taste in drinking water serve as an important reminder that the city and our partners have to be good stewards of our resources as these dry conditions continue throughout Sacramento, the region, and the state,” Eliason said.
