The taste test is a ...
Published by Bob Foerster, Executive Director at Nevada Rural Water Association
The taste test is a subjective test done by people. I know of no instrument substitute. Taste and mouth feel combine to give an impression - the water is either acceptable or unpalatable. The Threshold Odor Number test, TON is also used to test whether the water will be acceptable to most consumers. In both tests, panels of people are used. Nonsmokers please!
To address the 'oral and die' part we are talking about taste and TON analyses on water in a treatment facility. The raw water is normally put through the TON so that changes can be found early and treatment adjusted. Sources containing toxic contaminants would not normally be used. Any case, nobody would taste the raw untreated water.