Water problems
To the editor:
In the Aug. 10 edition of Journal-World, I really enjoyed the article explaining the Lawrence tap water smell of recent. This has been a not-so-favorite topic in the neighborhood and at work. The article correctly identified the source of the problem as geosmine; however, the description of the odor and taste as “musky” was not so accurate. As a flavor chemist, geosmine has always been characterized to me as musty, earthy or as a colleague so vividly coined, “pond bottom.” Musk, on the other hand, has a distinctly animallike and unique aroma, like that associated with a ferret.
Thank you for explaining this natural phenomena!
David Baloga,
Lawrence