Sensory Testers Invited to Develop Water-Flavor Standards

ASTM will develop standards that assess the effects of piping, gaskets, sealants, and other materials on the flavor of drinking water. The resulting standards will help water utilities identify materials less likely to alter drinking water taste.

A task force of ASTM Committee E18 on Sensory Evaluation of Materials and Products is seeking sensory evaluators with knowledge of:

• Materials in contact with water or food; or
• Flavor assessment of drinking water.

An introductory task force meeting will be held at the ASTM Committee E18 meetings, October 2-4 in Montreal.

According to task force member Roy Desrochers, senior manager, Sensory Technology Group, Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., the American Water Works Association Research Foundation requested that a flavor-assessment method be developed by ASTM. North Americans and Europeans who developed similar methods will participate on the ASTM task force of sensory, materials, and drinking-water specialists.

For further technical information, contact Roy Desrochers, senior manager, Sensory Technology Group, Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, Mass. (phone: 617/498-5127). For meeting or membership details, contact staff manager Jim Olshefsky, ASTM (phone: 610/832-9714). //

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