ALGAL blooms have been uncovered as the cause of vile-smelling drinking water at Campbell Town.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
TasWater last week said 11 complaints about the quality of water were received from town residents.
The organisation said tests showed the raw Elizabeth River supply met Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Despite that, Campbell Town resident Bill Chugg said he was unable to bring himself to drink the liquid.
"The smell takes one's breath away when trying to shower," Mr Chugg said.
"Both the smell and taste are vile . . . forget about Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, it's impossible to get the water past one's nose, let alone past one's lips."
TasWater chief executive Michael Brewster on Thursday said measures were being put in place to ensure an acceptable water standard was met.
"With our learnings from the recent taste and odour issues in the Hobart drinking water system, we quickly mobilised a mobile carbon dosing facility in anticipation that we could be dealing with increased levels of geosmin in the water," Mr Brewster said.
"We installed a temporary carbon dosing facility at the Campbell Town water treatment early this week and treatment of the water commenced yesterday."
Geosmin, an organic compound produced by gram-positive bacteria, creates an earthy or musty smell. It was discovered at the Campbell Town treatment plant.
Mr Brewster said TasWater would continue to monitor the water quality as a result of the detection.
"The carbon-treated water is beginning to work its way through the reticulation system in Ross and Campbell Town and crews will commence targeted scouring (flushing) of the water reticulation system in these towns over the coming days to help this water infiltrate the system more quickly," he said.
Mr Brewster said residents in the area should have been receiving carbon-dosed water since Friday.