Thursday, July 02, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Why Does Tri-Valley Tap Water Have an Earthy Scent? The Science Behind Season
LIVERMORE, Calif. (June 30, 2026) — If you have noticed a sudden, earthy or musty taste and smell in your tap water recently, your nose is working exactly as nature intended. Zone 7 Water Agency wants to reassure Tri-Valley residents that this seasonal aesthetic change poses absolutely no health risk, and the water remains entirely safe to drink and use. The odor is caused by a naturally occurring organic compound called geosmin, which peaks in surface water supplies from the Sacramento-San Joaquin
