Odour-free water soon for Bay of Islands customers
An unpleasant odour in the Paihia-Ōpua-Waitangi water supply should soon be a thing of the past once construction of a carbon dioxide dosing unit at the Paihia water treatment plant is completed in February 2024.
An unpleasant taste and odour in the Paihia-Ōpua-Waitangi water supply should soon be a thing of the past once construction of a carbon dioxide dosing unit at the Paihia water treatment plant is completed in February 2024.
The council’s three waters alliance partner, Far North Waters, has installed a dosing system at the plant to reduce the effects of geosmin. However, these measures have only been partially successful, prompting the council to invest in a carbon dioxide treatment unit for the plant. Carbon dioxide dosing controls the Ph of the raw water to improve this water treatment process.
Geosmin is a naturally occurring organic compound present in water taken from the Waitangi River. It is a harmless chemical produced by blue-green algae present in the river water. It has a distinct earthy or musty odour that most people can easily smell. It is most noticeable when concentrations of blue-green algae increase over warmer, summer months.
Once construction of the unit is completed, tests will be run in line to comply with standards regulated by Taumata Arowai. Apart from a lack of odour, customers should notice no other change to their water supplies.