Geosmin and MIB events in a new reservoir in southern California

Diamond Valley Lake is a large drinking water reservoir in western Riverside County, California near the city of Hemet. In almost 6 years since filling began in 1999, this reservoir has experienced five episodes involving either geosmin or 2-methylisoborneol (MIB). The first one was a short-lived but intense geosmin event in May 2000, associated with a planktonic cyanobacterium, Anabaena circinalis. Geosmin levels reached 750 ng/L at the surface. All the other episodes involved benthic proliferations in the littoral zone. In September 2002, an MIB-producing growth developed in a shallow area near the outlet tower, dominated by Oscillatoria cf. curviceps and O. limosa. A similar event occurred in October 2003. In March 2004, an extensive growth of cyanobacteria that included two geosmin producers developed at the east dam, but had minimal effect on geosmin levels in the water. Finally, there was a major MIB episode in October 2004, in which the primary causative organism was again Oscillatoria cf. curviceps. A band of benthic cyanobacteria developed all around the shoreline from 3-9 m deep, and surface MIB levels reached 63 ng/L. These events showed that a new reservoir in a mild climate can be colonised by benthic cyanobacteria that produce MIB and geosmin, within a relatively short time.