GUC’s annual chlorine conversion will begin June 15 and continue through July 27. During this time, the disinfectant used in the water treatment process will temporarily change from chloramines to chlorine.
Since December 2002, GUC has used chloramines, a mixture of chlorine and ammonia, as the disinfectant in its water treatment process.
“Chloramines are an effective disinfectant and also reduce the level of byproducts that are regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency,” said David Springer, Director of Water Resources. “State drinking water guidelines recommend that water systems using chloramines periodically switch back to free chlorine (chlorine alone) for a period of time. This brief, scheduled change in disinfectant is a standard water treatment practice to keep water mains clean and free of potentially harmful bacteria throughout the year.”
During the temporary switch to free chlorine, customers may notice a slight change in the taste or smell of their tap water. The mild chlorine taste and smell are normal and pose no health risk.
Most customers will not need to take any precautions as the water remains safe to drink and is treated according to both state and federal standards.
