Taste and Odour in Lake Ontario: Cause and Control
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector
Water
Project value$250,000
Project Type
Feasibility Study
Sub Sector
Drinking Water Quality
Grant amount$100,000
Program type
GMF
Municipality
Region of Peel, ON
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
1,451,022
Project timeline
2003 - 2011
Project number
3203
Description
Taste and odour in drinking water are recognized problems in Lake Ontario. Minute concentrations of geosmin,produced by algae or moulds, create the problem. Water utilities using the western basin of Lake Ontario want to providehigh quality, safe water. Immediate action has included investment in activated carbon systems to remove geosmin. Bymeans of this study, vital information on the biological cause, production, distribution and movement of taste and odour,and the effect of temperature and light, will be gathered. The viability of two technical options - an early warning systemthat allows utilities to run their activated carbon systems when required and the placement of new intakes at a depthwhere taste and odour does not occur - will be evaluated.
Applicant
Region of Peel, ON