Which methods are used to control taste and odor problems in surface water?

Which methods are used to control taste and odor problems in surface water?

• A. Filtration, sedimentation, and disinfection.
• B. Lake destratification, algae control, aeration, chemical oxidation, and activated carbon.
• C. Boiling and distillation.
• D. pH adjustment only.

Answer: (B)

Taste and odor problems in surface water are addressed by methods that reduce the compounds causing those smells and flavors, or remove them from the water. Lake destratification and algae control work to prevent or limit algal blooms that produce odor-causing compounds. Aeration helps volatile odor compounds escape from the water so they can be removed more easily, and chemical oxidation breaks down or transforms those compounds with oxidants. Activated carbon adsorbs the odor molecules, pulling them out of the water before it’s sent to consumers. Other methods like filtration, sedimentation, and disinfection mainly target particles or microbes and aren’t specifically aimed at taste and odor. Boiling and distillation aren’t practical for treating large quantities of surface water to fix taste and odor, and adjusting pH alone doesn’t resolve these issues.

Taste and odor problems in surface water are addressed by methods that reduce the compounds causing those smells and flavors, or remove them from the water. Lake destratification and algae control work to prevent or limit algal blooms that produce odor-causing compounds. Aeration helps volatile odor compounds escape from the water so they can be removed more easily, and chemical oxidation breaks down or transforms those compounds with oxidants. Activated carbon adsorbs the odor molecules, pulling them out of the water before it’s sent to consumers.

Other methods like filtration, sedimentation, and disinfection mainly target particles or microbes and aren’t specifically aimed at taste and odor. Boiling and distillation aren’t practical for treating large quantities of surface water to fix taste and odor, and adjusting pH alone doesn’t resolve these issues.