The Detection of Taste and Odor in Osaka's Drinking Water

Laboratory and consumer panels were used to determine the threshold odor concentration(TOO of 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin in water. The consumer panel was also used to assess the taste of tap water. The results showed that laboratory panel TOCs of MIB and geosmin were 4 and 94 ng/l respectively, while those of consumer panels were 12 and 360 ng/l respectively. In taste assessment, 8% of consumers assessed drinking water as offensive or bad even when the tap water wasn't contaminated by musty odor substances. However if it was contaminated by MIB at its TOC level, 17% of consumers assessed the water as offensive and bad.