| Tap water with an earthy taste remains safe to drink | Tap water with an earthy taste remains safe to drink | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/tap_water.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>The City of Cape Town would like to reassure residents who have detected an earthy flavour to their tap water that it remains safe to drink and compliant with South African Drinking Water Quality Standards (SANS 241: 2015). The change in taste is due to the presence of geosmin in our drinking water supply originating from the Theewaterskloof Dam. It poses no threat to human health. </p> | <p>Following a few days of hot weather, the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has encountered the presence of geosmin in our water supply. This is currently affecting the taste and smell of the water supplied from the Faure and Blackheath Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) to various areas across Cape Town, primarily the central and southern areas.</p><p>It must be emphasised that geosmin poses no threat to human health. It is a naturally occurring organic compound and is responsible for the earthy taste of beetroot and the scent that occurs in the air when rain falls after a dry spell. The compound is present in water at undetectable levels, but during periods of hot weather, the levels of geosmin can increase; and even minute concentrations of a few parts per trillion can be detected by the human palate. </p><p>‘I’d like to assure residents that the City’s engineers, lab scientists and process controllers are closely monitoring this situation. The water teams at Faure and Blackheath WTPs have also boosted their already rigorous water treatment process, by dosing powdered activated carbon to reduce the effect of the geosmin. </p><p>‘However, it may take some time for the taste and smell of the water to normalise. We thank our residents for their understanding during this time,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.</p><p><br> </p> | 2025-03-06T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#42305b06-67ec-4657-9272-641a0ea14201;L0|#042305b06-67ec-4657-9272-641a0ea14201|water supply;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#352cb5da-6a34-4bf4-959d-14dc8987a2b4;L0|#0352cb5da-6a34-4bf4-959d-14dc8987a2b4|water and sanitation;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
