Odd taste and odor in the water 
Columbia Water customers who are served from the Columbia Canal Water Treatment Plant may have noticed an earthy smell or taste to their tap water recently. Plant operators are aware of the issue and are working to address it. While it is a nuisance, there are no safety issues with the water.
The cause of the odd smell and taste is naturally occurring in Lake Murray and the Broad River during the summer months. It results from certain types of algae growing in the source water. The two most common compounds are geosmin and 2-methylisoborneal (MIB). Although these compounds are harmless, the human senses of taste and smell are extremely sensitive to them and can sometimes detect them in the water at low concentrations.
Columbia Water has implemented several process modifications to reduce any objectionable smell and taste as much as possible. Geosmin and MIB are extremely difficult to remove from water using normal water treatment, so operators are using activated carbon to reduce their levels. To learn more about geosmin and MIB, please visit our web page at https://columbiascwater.net/geosmin-and-mib/.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work to resolve the issue.
Address/Location
City of Columbia Water and Sewer
1136 Washington St
Columbia, SC 29201
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 803-545-3300