Riverina Water engineering director Bede Spannagle said they detected traces of the compounds Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol, but reassured residents that neither was dangerous to human health.

However, Mr Spannagle said the chemical compounds could cause an earthy flavour and odour, especially during the warmer summer months.

"We had some complaints about the water and we did our own investigation, and we also asked WaterNSW to do an investigation into the water issue," Mr Spannagle said.

"It's only surface water, about 30 per cent of our supply. It'll be at certain times of the year, normally when it's hotter when that grows in the water. Winter or cold or raining dilutes it in the source, so you won't taste it."

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The Wagga Filtration Plant is not equipped to filter those chemicals out of the system, and Mr Spannagle said Riverina Water currently had no plans to introduce that technology.

However, Mr Spannagle said they may consider doing so in the future based on consumer demand.

"People's expectations change and people are expecting more from their drinking water," Mr Spannagle said.

"If that level of expectation changes further in the future at some point the communities may say 'we want our water to taste better and we're prepared to pay an extra, say, 10 cents per litre for it.'

"I don't know what or when the scenario will be, but we think it's an issue that's starting to raise itself at this point, and the expectations are only going to become greater in the future."

Kendra Tyack moved to Wagga recently from a rural property, and she said she can't taste the difference between the town water and the water back home.

"I used to live on a farm, but the water tastes normal here [in Wagga]," she said.

Wagga resident Pauline Perkins insists she can tell the difference, and that she never drinks tap water when she can avoid it.

"The town water tastes like chloride, it's horrible," Ms Perkins said.

"I just don't like the taste of it. When I boil it for tea or cooking, it's fine, but for drinking purposes I prefer bottled."

Wagga resident Caprice Ryczak said she tends to opt for bottled water over tap water, saying she prefers the taste.

She said the water ran brown on one recent occasion, with visible sediment coming out of the tap.

"It's not overly bad, but it's not great," Ms Ryczak said.

"I prefer bottled water over tap water."

Riverina Water's report found dirty water originating in the North Wagga, East Wagga and West Wagga bores' rising main, which said could impact on the water clarity.

Muddy or unclear water was also identified as an issue for some of Wagga's outerlying towns, including Oura and Morundah.

The report found high levels of minerals such as iron and manganese were responsible for Oura's water problems.

It also found high levels of sediment in Morundah's water supply and recommended keeping chlorine levels higher in order to disinfect the water.

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