RANKING WATER BY AROMA AND FLAVOR

The Metropolitan Water District’s renown Flavor Profile Panel tasted and rated Orange County drinking water from 12 water retail agencies. The panel, composed of MWD chemists and other lab personnel trained much like wine-tasters, sniffed and sipped in search of flavors and aromas. The more intense and noticeable the flavors and aromas, the lower the water rated. Experts say the best water is tasteless.

AROMA

Eastside Water Assn.: Chlorine: note Chalky: note Musty: note Fullerton (City): Chlorine: note Chalky: trace Irvine Ranch Water District: Chlorine: trace Earthy: trace Southern California Water Co., Los Alamitos: Chlorine: note Septic: trace La Palma (City): Chlorine: trace Cahlky: note Musty: note Mesa Consolidated Water District, Costa Mesa: Chlorine: trace/very slight Musty: trace Sour: note Moulton Niguel Water District: Moldy: trace Chlorine: note Musty: note South Coast Water District: Chlorine: note Earthy: slight Santa Margarita Water District: Chlorine: trace Earthy: very slight/slight Fountain Valley (City): Moldy: note Chlorine: trace Chalky: note Grassy: note Plastic: note Trabuco Canyon Water District (formerly Santa Ana Mountains County Water District): Chlorine: trace Earthy: very slight Capistrano Valley Water District: Moldy: slight/very slight Chlorine: trace Solvent: note TASTE

Eastside Water Assn.: Drying: slight Chlorine: note Sour: note Musty: trace Bitter: note Fullerton (City): Drying: slight Chalky: trace/very slight Chlorine: note Salty: note Metallic: note Irvine Ranch Water District: Drying: slight Earthy: very slight Chalky: note Chlorine: trace Southern California Water Co., Los Alamitos: Drying: slight Earthy: note Chlorine: trace Salty: trace Swampy: trace Metallic: note La Palma (City): Drying: slight Chlorine: very slight Sour: note Musty: trace Bitter: note Mesa Consolidated Water District, Costa Mesa: Drying: slight Chalky: trace Chlorine: note Swampy: note Effervescence: note Saline: note Moulton Niguel Water District: Drying: slight/slight to moderate Earthy: slight Chalky: trace Chlorine: note Salty: note South Coast Water District: Drying: slight/slight to moderate Earthy: slight Chalky: note Chlorine: note Salty: note Santa Margarita Water District: Drying: slight/slight to moderate Earthy: slight Chlorine: trace Salty: note Fountain Valley (City): Drying: slight Earthy: note Chalky: very slight Chlorine: trace Salty: note Trabuco Canyon Water District (formerly Santa Ana Mountains County Water District): Drying: slight/slight to moderate Earthy: very slight Chalky: note Salty: trace Swampy: trace Sour: note Capistrano Valley Water District: Drying: slight/slight to moderate Earthy: slight Chalky: trace Chlorine: note Salty: note