TasWater to get bad taste out of Hobart's drinking water
Hobart's drinking water could start to taste better from this weekend, with TasWater confident it has found a lasting solution to odour and taste problems.
The Tasmanian water utility company has identified the cause of poor taste and odour as compounds from algal blooms in the River Derwent.
Customers in Sandy Bay, Battery Point and North Hobart will now get their water from Lake Fenton in the Mount Field National Park.
Other customers will have to wait about two weeks for the Bryn Estyn water treatment plant in New Norfolk to be upgraded.
TasWater chief executive Mike Brewster said carbon would be added to the water.
''This is a common problem interstate where water supplies are subject to warmer and dryer climatic conditions, and carbon dosing is a regular part of the water treatment process," he said.
Mr Brewster said there would also be increased testing of raw water during warmer months to minimise the risk of the issue repeating.
"We have to get to the bottom of why this has suddenly occurred this year to better understand our raw water source, but from a customer perspective the engineering solution we put in will prevent a repeat in future years anyhow," he said.
