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When the seasons start to change, you may notice an unwelcome taste and smell in your drinking water. This may be due to the growth of blue-green algae, which can be triggered by seasonal lake changes. If you want to prevent your drinking water from tasting musty, read on about the causes of blue-green algae growth and how the PURŽ 3 stage filter can help keep your drinking water tasting crisp and fresh.
Surface water sources, such as lakes and reservoirs, go through seasonal changes that can affect your drinking water. In summer, the heat from the sun warms the lake's surface water, while the deeper water remains cooler. This causes the lake to be thermally stratified. As summer progresses and changes into fall, many lakes and reservoirs undergo the following changes that can bring about unusual, and unwelcome, tastes and odors in your drinking water.
Watch this video to see how lake changes occur.
Summer: The lake is stratified.
Summer to fall: Blue-green algae begin to grow in the warmer surface water. Cooler, deeper water becomes stagnant. Dead algae and organic materials settle to the bottom.
Early fall: As the blue-green algae grow, they release compounds that cause unusual taste and odor in drinking water.
Fall: Blue-green algae growth peaks and the surface water temperature cools, making this layer more dense. The surface water and deeper water become similar in temperature and densities; the two layers mix and stir lake sediment and stagnant water. At this time, the lake is said to "turn over" or become de-stratified. This turnover may cause a secondary growth of blue-green and other algae. Unusual tastes and odors in drinking water may peak and become very pronounced.
Throughout summer and into fall, blue-green algae in surface waters may release compounds that cause some drinking water supplies to have a noticeably earthy, musty taste and odor. During de-stratification or lake turnover, as blue-green algae has a secondary bloom, your drinking water can taste especially bad, with pronounced odor.
"Unusual tastes and odors caused by compounds released by blue-green algae affect many drinking water supplies every year," says Dr. David Walker, a research scientist at the University of Arizona. "In the United States, 182 million people are served by surface waters where blue-green algae grow. It just makes good sense to attach a water filter to your tap faucet."
Learn more about how to improve the taste, color, and odor of your family's drinking water during seasonal lake changes.
All lakes turn over with seasonal temperature changes, and sometimes this produces a mildly musty smell and taste in drinking water produced from lakes. In some cities, however, a sulfurous or rotten-egg odor occurs. Fortunately, you can remove your water's odor and taste caused by seasonal lake changes.
According to the Water Quality AssociationŽ, filtering your drinking water at the point of use effectively improves its taste and quality. Most water filters do a good job of reducing contaminants. However, only PURŽ offers a Faucet Filter with exclusive 3 stage filtration to remove odor and taste caused by seasonal lake changes in your water.
The PUR Faucet Filter with 3 stage filtration easily attaches to most kitchen faucets, and PUR guarantees it will remove odor and taste caused by seasonal lake changes in your water or your money back. You can find PUR water filters at most mass retailers, national home improvement stores, and club stores.
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