01 Apr OWASA Completes 2022 Temporary Change in Water Treatment
OWASA has completed the annual drinking water disinfection change for the month of March. OWASA’s Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant switched from using chlorine to disinfect drinking water during March to return to using chloramines in the treatment process at 12 a.m. Friday, April 1.
Customers may continue noticing a higher-than-normal smell or taste of chlorine in the drinking water in early-to-mid April because some water treated with chlorine remains in the water distribution system. The prevalence of chlorine will ease throughout April as the treated drinking water moves throughout the system to homes and businesses across the service area.
OWASA’s primary drinking water disinfection treatment includes using a combination of chlorine and ammonia, known as chloramines. But each March that process is changed to only using chlorine for disinfection. This change was only in place during March and did not impact the safety of the drinking water. The treatment change is part of a state-regulated program carried out in coordination with neighboring utilities.
Dialysis patients and aquarium owners should continue to take special precautions to remove traces of ammonia and chlorine from the water prior to use. To learn more about the community’s water supply and treatment, click here.