Evaluation of Seasonal Taste and Odor Problems Associated with the Drinking Water in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
Open Access
Author:
Rojas-Balli, Camilo
Area of Honors:
Civil Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
William D Burgos, Thesis Supervisor Sukran Ilgin Guler, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Bosconia Bucaramanga Geosmin 2-MIB Cyanobacteria
Abstract:
Inhabitants of the city of Bucaramanga, Colombia, have been experiencing seasonal taste and odor issues in their drinking water ever since the completion of the Bosconia reservoir in 2015. Previous literature concludes the issue arises from 10-dimethyl-trans-decalol (Geosmin) and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), odorous organic compounds released by cyanobacteria. Through a collaboration with the Acueducto Metropolitano de Bucaramanga (local water authority), and the Universidad Pontifical de Bucaramanga (local university); this thesis was designed to formulate hypotheses regarding the cause of the cyanobacteria in the Bosconia reservoir. These hypotheses were formulated by analyzing geobiological reports on the reservoir, meteorological data, watershed reports, and an overall literature review on the topic. The completion of this thesis is meant to serve as a useful document to be utilized by the local water authority to resolve this ongoing problem.