Does New York Drinking Water Taste Different To You? Here’s why – Telemundo New York (47)

New York’s drinking water is renowned for its quality. Every day, only in the Big Apple are consumed billion gallons of fresh, clean water that comes from large reservoirs in the north of the state, some more than 125 miles from the city.

But if you’ve noticed that tap water tastes different in recent days, you’re not alone. The city reported closing the Catskill aqueduct for 15 weeks for a repair project and is now dependent on water from two other supply systems: the Delaware system and the Croton system.

The Department of Environmental Protection notes that this could change the smell or taste of tap water, but it is only temporary and the liquid is completely safe to drink. The agency explained that the change in taste and odor is due to harmless, microscopic organic compounds generated as aquatic plants and microorganisms grow during the summer.

The water may taste earthy or musty, the department said, but it is a phenomenon that occurs at this time of year.

New York City sources its drinking water from large reservoirs in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills. And some New Yorkers may find that the water smells earthy or damp during late fall and early winter. That change is caused by two naturally occurring organic compounds called MIB and geosmin. The compound MIB (short for methylisoborneol) is more prevalent in state reserves.

These naturally occurring compounds are commonly found in soil and are produced as plants and microorganisms grow. MIB and geosmin enter the water reservoirs at the end of the year, as aquatic plants and microorganisms begin to die until the next growing season. This happens around the same time that the leaves begin to fall each fall.

The Department of Environmental Protection regularly tests samples from the water system for everything from pH and temperature to pathogens and metals. The agency noted that it tests the water 2,000 times a day throughout the system to make sure it is always 100% safe to drink.

Over the past decade, the state has worked on several projects to ensure New York City has a reliable supply of drinking water during the final phase of a $ 1 billion project to repair the world’s longest tunnel: the Aqueduct of Delaware. And the Catskill aqueduct rehabilitation work is key to those efforts.

If you don’t like the earthy taste, fill a pitcher with water and put it in the refrigerator overnight, which will suppress the taste. The Department of Environmental Protection also recommends flavoring the water with a little lemon or the juice of other fruits.

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