Franklin County Rural Water District Number 1 is advising its customers of water possibly tasting like a swimming pool for a little while. The reason? The water comes from the City of Ottawa and they are doing the annual burnout or free burn.
Burnouts last a couple weeks each and some will notice a strong chlorine smell or taste in their tap water. It is still very safe to drink and use in your normal daily usage and consumption. The Ottawa Water Plant typically uses both chlorine and ammonia in the water, which forms chloramines, also known as combined chlorine, to provide a long lasting protection against microorganisms. Chloramines last longer in the distribution system, but they are not as good at disinfecting the water as free chlorine.
The burnout is usually done on an annual basis to ensure the entire distribution system stays clean and biology-free and continue to provide customers with the cleanest and safest water possible. Along with the taste and smell of chlorine, you may also notice periods of low pressure while the lines are flushed. You can get rid of the smell and taste quickly by putting a pitcher of water in the fridge and letting it sit for a day.
