Does the water taste dirty to you?

Didnt they say somewhere that people wouldnt mind drinking recycled sewage water somewhere?

far out…

I just had a glass of water, and eww, it does taste really gross… (do people now have to boil water before you drink it or something?)

Maybe they are secretly adding treated sewage to see if we can tell the difference :p

It smells funny too. I just ran the tap to fill the kettle and the water smells odd.

its all linked with the raw sewage drizzling into lake tuggeranong-

I thought it was tasting very much like activated carbon, which is a filtration system they use when algae levels are up.
But we have one of those Sunbeam water filters which does a fine job, while leaving the flouride in for the teeth.

wonder whether this will become a story that suddenly appears (unattributed) in the CT in the next day or so – bets, anyone?

The story appeared in today’s CT. ACTEW confirmed that they are supplying soley from the Googong Water Treatment Plant.

Watching v paying

To compare watching the beasts you have put your life into become emaciated and worthless against paying off a regular mortgage ?
Each to their own i guess…

Lenny

Bollocks. I have people in my family who have been in the pastoral business for years. I am not ignorant to the current situation in any way. Having said that, droughts are not an unknown in this country. Whilst I have compassion for those in financial trouble because of the drought, it is a common occurrence. To bag ‘city slickers’ is a little too much when we don’t have access to things such as bore water etc etc. Like I say, droughts are an occupational hazard of any sort of farming and to describe every incident of them as bordering on armageddon (as the farming media are apt to do) is a bit beyond the pale.

It is sad, indeed tragic for some, but it is a reality that has been around since farming began in this country. Farmers who have moved to the northern parts of Australia, where the farming should be done, don’t have the drought problem.

I’m not trying to appear without passion, but hereditary farmers who inherit a farm cost neutral are not in as bad a spot as many who have the daily responsibility of a regular mortgage

vg your ignorance to the current drought situation saddens me

Driest in terms of total water volume, but when referring to ‘wetness’, the reference is generally made in respect to amount of water in liquid form.

Your point is made though.

OK, driest predominantly inhabited continent then?

Switch to Gugong occurred (if memory serves) on 21 December. Forgot to put this in last post. Just goes to show, tastebuds don’t lie!

Just to be a pain in the proverbial, Australia is NOT the driest continent on earth. That accolade goes to Antarctica.

I know farmers do it tough, but drought conditions are more likely to be the long term climate norm, with wetter periods occasionally. It’s entirely possible we’re simply over the last wet period.

Oh, and I live in Jerra, and the water tastes great like it always does.

/dons flame suit.

ABC Local Radio last night had some info on the “what the papers say” segment of Nightlife at 11:30ish. The CT bloke said that the funny taste is because of the switch from the Molonglo treatment plant to the new one at Gugong dam. ACTEW are to do some testing but they reckon it’s safe. No story on CT website to link to, as yet.

“living on a farm makes you very touchy about anything water related at the momement, and i am just sick of all the city slickers complaining”

Don’t mean to be rude, but some people are sick and tired of hearing farmers go on about the tragedy of the drought, when its a naturally occurring thing that has happened more than once.

Drought is a farming fact of life in Australia which is apparently the world’s driest continent. Whilst I feel for farmers it ain’t the 1st drought and won’t be the last. It is a fact of life in the country

“perhps you should go to africa or cambodia and then see if you want to complain about our water”

Work in Africa all the time lenny and yes ive got a few water stories to tell lol. Once in Angola after a fairly heavy night on the piss staying at the “lovely” hotel tropicana in Luanda. I woke up the next day extremely dry and forgot to get hold of some bottle water the night before so I took a mouth full of the hotel water. I ended up getting some thing like disantry for 3 to 4 weeks. Not fun

One of the things that defines a first world country is being able to drink the tap water safely and Ive found this to be the case just about every where in the fully developed world.

I agree, up here in Gungahlin, water has been tasting a bit strange since the weekend before christmas. A slightly musty taste, as others have already mentioned. Wonder what’s caused it?

I agree, up here in Gungahlin, water has been tasting a bit strange since the weekend before christmas. A slightly musty taste, as others have already mentioned. Wonder what’s caused it?

Apologies too lenny, my remarks were uncalled for.

The original post wasn’t talking about lack of water, just how odd it tastes…. never encountered this in Canberra! I can see how ungrateful us ‘city slickers’ may appear in your eyes.

I know what ‘off’ tank water tastes like, I spent a few years on a property near Anakie via Geelong in Vic in my youth in the 80’s. The smell can never be forgotten – dank, musty, riverry – although perfectly drinkable!

We are very fortunate here. I SO appreciate that we can drink tap water (even if it now tastes worse than the pristine stuff it used to be while I was growing up here-rated top in ‘Choice’ in those days). Got sick in Spain in the early 90’s from greeblies in the water. OMG, what palaver having to boil everything and wait till it cooled (or use perrier!) just to brush the ol’ teeth. Did NOT expect a Euro nation to have such issues.

No worries, lenny.

your probaly right crabb- apologies
living on a farm makes you very touchy about anything water related at the momement, and i am just sick of all the city slickers complaining

Tastes pretty much the same this (south) side of LBG – but then, only use it for cleaning teeth etc.

Whoa, lenny – I don’t think you’ll find any of the comments here could be regarded as complaints. We’re just discussing an interesting phenomenon. I had no complaint in mind when I started the post.

Vic with no offence intended, i truely do think we should just be greatful to have clean running water… perhps you should go to africa or cambodia and then see if you want to complain about our water

Water tastes fine where I am in Woden…although I don’t drink it on a regular/daily basis so I can’t really compare it to last weeks water.

You need to go and buy a caps lock key lenny, you pretentious waste of space.

dear god you people should be bloody thankful we live in a country were you can even drink water straight from the tap, we are also in the middle of one massive drought – seriosly peopleif your so precious go and buy some bottled water

i had water (for like the first time since christmas! lol!) a little while ago, and yeah…it tastes sorta different..

Very interesting – thanks for proving it’s not just weirdness on my part. BTW – wonder whether this will become a story that suddenly appears (unattributed) in the CT in the next day or so – bets, anyone?

Two glasses of water in town today.
One at the Italian Bite (Bunda Street) the other at Gloria Jeans in Borders…
Both had a distinct “musty” taste, sort of like mildew.
Just tried the water here at home (Gungahlin)… same sort of taste though not as strong as it was in Civic.

Haven’t drunk water since xmas eve

beer still tastes ok – and wine, port, scotch, bourbon etc,etc.

don’t fish fuck in it?

Oh my god! I’ve been having this discussion with my wife for the past week. The water tastes dirty, dusty or mouldy! Very chlorinated before Xmas but now just tastes dirty.

I will add that before ACTEW moaned about high weekend (allowed) water use, they should have worked out that it was the last weekend of the school term AND the last weekend before Xmas, so all those going away were giving the garden a last drink. I would expect it to drop while half the town is down the coast . . .

Yes – distinctly dirty tasting, with similar timing to previous comments, ie – from a few days before Xmas.
And have also noticed a cranking up of the chlorine over the last few months. The chlorine dissipates on standing (eg in fridge) but the dirty taste doesn’t.

Possibly ‘scouring’ of the pipes from all the permitted weekend watering?

Yep, we noticed a definate taste and smell to it a few days ago. On par with river water or unclean tank water.

I’ve only drank beer since the 24th so I wouldn’t be able to comment.

Ash.

It seems we have a winner. RiotACT – near instant answers (not always right mind you but you gotta give credit for timeliness)

I noticed when I flushed the dunny last night that it (the water) smelt heavily chlorinated.
Ralph, what have you been drinking!?!

Has tasted different since the fires.

Having not had the pleasure of tasting Canberra for months now i can offer no incite but I did used to rate it as the best water in the country, as did a number of home brewers.

Has anyone else noticed a change in the water quality and if so is there anyone in the know who may be able to inform of a change in the treatment regime, the drought causing more sediment, &c, &c, or any other reason for this apparent change?

I noticed when I flushed the dunny last night that it (the water) smelt heavily chlorinated.