Does Your Water Smell Funny? Here's Why

You might have noticed an unusual scent or taste from your tap water starting yesterday.

From March 26 through May 7, the Washington Aqueduct will temporarily switch from using chloramine to chlorine to disinfect the drinking water as part of routine maintenance. The Washington Aqueduct serves Vienna, the District of Columbia, Arlington County and Falls Church.

The temporary switch to chlorine is a standard practice among systems that use chloramine; it allows for a system-wide flush to clean out any potentially harmful bacteria. According to DC Water, chlorine levels will continue to meet EPA standards and are not a health risk.

To reduce the taste and odor from your tap water, local water authorities recommend

• Flushing the cold water tap for two minutes.
• Refrigerating a pitcher of cold tap water to allow the chlorine odor to disappear.
• Using a pitcher-style or faucet mount filter to remove chlorine taste and odor.

Certain groups and businesses, however, should continue taking extra precautions when using tap water. Namely: dialysis centers, medical facilities and aquatic pet owners. Most methods used to remove chloramine from water are equally effective and necessary for water treated with chlorine. Additionally, water agencies recommend that individuals with special health concerns consult with a health care provider on the use of tap water.

For additional information, contact DC Water at 202-612-3440 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) or 202-612-3400 (24-hour).