Gainesville Water Resources employee collects a water sample for testing.
Officials in Gainesville have heard citizen concerns about the taste and odor in their drinking water for the past several months. Immediate mitigation of the musty smell and taste has been addressed by using Powered Activated Carbon, increased testing and operational adjustments.
“This is an aesthetic issue and not a health issue,” said Linda MacGregor, director of the Department of Water Resources for the city of Gainesville.
“The taste and odor compounds continue to persist beyond the normal lake turnover for reasons that scientists do not fully understand,” she said. “In the second half of 2025, the taste and odor compounds have been much higher (than in prior years). While the duration and intensity of the turnover are unlike anything we’ve seen before, we can assure the public the water leaving the plant and throughout the system has been tested and meets all drinking water standards.”
The city’s Department of Water Resources, as well as national experts and other utilities, have increased testing and operational adjustments to address the issue.
For the long term the city is working with others to undertake a project to address non-point nutrient runoff in the upper Chattahoochee watershed.
“The funding for this project is in the FY25 Federal appropriations,” MacGregor said. “The project will be a combination of research and implementation of best management practices. The project will begin in calendar year 2026. Gainesville is a partner in the project.
“This will allow a group of utilities, universities and other partners to work on Lake Lanier water quality issues over the next few years.”
The city has created an informative webpage that addresses specific issues and provides Frequently Asked Questions. Go to gainesville.org/921/Water-Resources and click on the Taste & Odor tab for information, frequency of testing and other actions.
Photo: courtesy City of Gainesville
