Local News

Why your water might taste like a swimming pool in the coming weeks

In the coming weeks, Raleigh and several other communities will use chlorine to perform an annual "flush" of the city water systems.

Posted Updated

By
David Crabtree
, WRAL anchor/reporter

In the coming weeks, Raleigh and several other communities will use chlorine to perform an annual "flush" of the city water systems.

According to the City of Raleigh, between March 1 and April 13, Raleigh Water will stop adding ammonia to its water system and switch to chlorine to disinfect the lines. That means the water coming into homes over the next three weeks could temporarily smell and taste similar to a chlorinated swimming pool.

The city will revert back to adding ammonia to the water treatment process on Tuesday, April 13.

Chlorine flushing is federally and state mandated, and Raleigh told WRAL News it is safe, although impacted residents may want to boil or filter their water before using it to remove the aroma.

The Town of Cary asked citizens who use water for kidney dialysis machines, fish aquariums or other chlorine-sensitive uses to be aware that the water may contain chlorine, ammonia, or a mixture of the two at the beginning and end of the process.

People were also urged to check for discolored water before washing their clothes.

Along with Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Cary, Hillsborough and Smithfield will also be performing a disinfection with chlorine. A schedule indicating when the flushing will occur in each municipality can be found below:

  • Feb. 26-April 12: Durham's Department of Water Management is performing its annual water treatment disinfection changeover process
  • March 1-April 26: The Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility will use chlorine instead of a combination of chlorine and ammonia beginning March 1 and resume adding ammonia on April 26.
  • March 1-April 2: The Town of Smithfield Water Filtration Plant will use chlorine on March 1 at 8 a.m. and end on April 2.
  • March 1-unknown: The Town of Hillsborough will use chlorine instead of a combination of chlorine and ammonia beginning March 1. Work is expected to last one month.

Related Topics

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.