G. Izaguirre et Wd. Taylor, GEOSMIN AND 2-METHYLISOBORNEOL PRODUCTION IN A MAJOR AQUEDUCT SYSTEM, Water science and technology, 31(11), 1995, pp. 41-48
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Water Resources","Environmental Sciences","Engineering, Civil
The California Aqueduct supplies water from Northern California to Sou
thern California, dividing into the West and East branches above Pyram
id Lake. In July and August 1990, elevated geosmin levels (10-48 ng/l)
occurred in the East Branch of the aqueduct, which extends along the
southern edge of the Mojave Desert. The geosmin episode was associated
with attached algal growths on the sides of the aqueduct. A geosmin-p
roducing cyanobacterium, possibly a Microcoleus sp., was isolated from
both water and periphyton. In the summer of 1991, elevated levels of
2-methylisoborneol (MIB) occurred in the East Branch of the aqueduct (
up to 78 ng/l), along with lower levels of geosmin. In July 1992, a re
currence of MIB production led to a severe off-flavor problem for a wa
ter agency that receives water directly from the aqueduct, resulting i
n numerous complaints from consumers. In both episodes, a Lyngbya sp.
was isolated from periphyton and mud collected near the water's edge.
These isolates were strong MIB producers in culture, yielding 240 and
260 mu g/l, respectively. Beginning in 1992, a second, relatively weak
MIB producer, a Hyella sp., was isolated from membrane-filter plates
inoculated with aqueduct water. These off-flavor episodes - associated
with low flows during a drought period - showed that previously untai
nted water sources can be affected by these problems when conditions c
hange.