Beginning April 2 and lasting through June, local municipalities will flush their water main lines. As a result, homeowners throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland may notice a chlorine taste and smell in their tap water. This is in addition to temporary discoloration and the presence of sediment. Fairfax Water, which treats the majority of the drinking water in the Northern Virginia and Maryland areas, will use free chlorine as the primary disinfectant in its drinking water treatment process during this time. For most of the year, chloramines are used because they present a less prominent taste and smell than free chlorine.
Although chlorine is an efficient way to kill harmful bacteria, it does have its’ drawbacks. Not only does it taste and smell bad, but it can dry out your skin, fade your clothing, and dry out the rubber seals in your appliances. It may also be harmful to the health of your family over time.
According to Prince William County and Fairfax County websites, “Customers who are sensitive to the taste and odor of chlorine can place an open container of tap water in their refrigerators which enables the chlorine to dissipate. However, they should replace refrigerated drinking water every two or three days with a fresh supply.”
Instead of worrying about the effects of free chlorine on the health of your family or your pets, call My Plumber Heating and Air today to inquire about our water conditioning options. My Plumber Heating and Air offers several water-conditioning treatments to remove impurities. Specifically, our carbon filtration or our City Softener unit will remove chlorine and mineral deposits and will provide you and your family with delicious, sparkling, high-quality water that is available continuously throughout the year.
