Water Science and Technology Vol 40 No 6 pp 91–98 © IWA Publishing 1999

Detection of Odour and Health Risk Perception of Drinking Water

Cynthia G. Jardine^*, Nancy Gibson^** and Steve E. Hrudey^***

^*Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Public Health Sciences, 13-103 Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
^**Department of Human Ecology, 115 Home Economics Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
^***Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Public Health Sciences, 13-103 Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada

A substantial proportion of drinking water consumers have resorted to alternatives to their municipal water supply as their source of drinking water. Although health risk perceptions associated with drinking water are ranked low in comparison with other risks, they are subject to influence from the media as a primary information source. Although there may not be a strong connection between odour detection and health risk, consumers who make such a connection cannot be dismissed as irrational. There are substantial grounds to support the possibility that unfamiliar drinking water odours might reveal the presence of substances which pose a potential health risk. Failure to provide credible evidence as to the actual causes of odours will leave water utilities in an indefensible position on associated health risk.

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