Page 47 - FoodFocusThailand No.167 February 2020

STRONG QC & QA

water, based on our 2019 Water Quality Tasters rate each sample on a scale of zero to 10—zero meaning the filtered water smells
Survey). The chemical is used in water- and tastes just like pure spring water, and 10 meaning the filtered water still smells and
treatment facilities to get rid of disease- tastes full of contaminants.
causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites, For multiple or high levels of contaminants, reverse osmosis filters are often best. They
and utilities are supposed to use just can remove lead, arsenic, bacteria, and other contaminants. But they take up a lot of space,
enough of it to get the job done. But require additional plumbing, and often go through several gallons of water for every gallon
"occasionally they overdo it, which can of filtered water. They’re pricey, too, some costing $1,000 or more. You might also have to
leave traces in the drinking water,” says pay a professional to periodically service the system. For improving taste or odor, or dealing
Baker. with less serious contamination, a carbon filter can help. But it might not remove all lead.
Other common causes of funky water
come from naturally occurring compounds
near the water source, such as algae or เอกสารอ้างอิง/References
microorganisms. If your water smells like www.consumerreports.org/water-quality/why-does-water-smell/
www.consumerreports.org/water-quality/how-to-test-your-tap-water/
rotten eggs and vegetables or a sewage
treatment plant, the offender is probably
dimethyl disulfide, which occurs naturally
in soil and is generally produced by
microorganisms living in oxygen-poor
environments. You can taste and smell it
even at low concentrations.
A musty, earthy aroma can come from
geosmin or 2-methylisoborneol, compounds
released by certain species of algae in or
near the water source (usually lakes and
rivers). And again, even a tiny bit can cause
water to smell. You may notice seasonal
Why Does fluctuations in these odors, too. Late
summer is the time when algae bloom and
die, so the water may be particularly
My Water Smell? pungent then. If you have well water and it
looks cloudy or rust-colored and tastes
Here are the common culprits metallic, that’s likely from ferrous sulfate, a
water-soluble form of iron that can find its
and how to get rid of them way into groundwater.
Water Filters Test for Flavor and
Odor Removal
We work with professional taste tester, a
sensory consulting firm in New Jersey, to
assess how well each water filter we test
neutralizes the tastes and odors mentioned
above. “Clean water should feel soft on the
palate with no aroma or taste,” says
professional taste tester. “Since it mimics
saliva, no other differentiating characteristics
should be detected.”
For water filter tests, team spikes pure
spring water with droplets of the compounds
that make water smell and taste like
common contaminants in water: a
swimming pool, rotten food, damp soil, and
pennies. Then the water goes through a
water filter.
A panel of eight to 12 tasters does a
blind sniff and taste test of the filtered water
against a baseline of pure spring water. For
each water filter, they assess two batches
with low levels of contamination and two
batches with high levels of contamination.

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