Stronger Chlorine Smell And Taste Expected In Arlington Water

ARLINGTON, VA — You might notice a slightly stronger chlorine smell and taste in your tap water starting next Monday.

That’s because Arlington County, along with northeastern Fairfax County and the District of Columbia, will be cleaning out their tap water networks, a process that is conducted annually.

Residents can run the cold water tap for about two minutes before using, get a filter system, or let the water sit in a container for an hour or two to allow the chlorine smell and taste to dissipate.

Water service will continue uninterrupted during the process, which will last until May 16. Residents also may see open fire hydrants as part of the process.

“During that time, drinking water from the tap may taste slightly different, but the water is essentially unchanged thanks to the purification process,” Arlington County said.

Arlington and nearby jurisdictions receive their water from the Washington Aqueduct, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps temporarily switches its system disinfectant from chloramine to chlorine to help clean pipes and maintain system flow. The aqueduct adds a corrosion inhibitor during the process to reduce the potential release of lead in regional system pipes.

During the cleaning, local water authorities will monitor drinking water for safe chlorine levels as well as conduct system-wide flushing to enhance water quality. Residents may see open fire hydrants as part of the routine.

Residents who take special precautions to remove chloramine from tap water during the rest of the year should continue to do so during the temporary switch to chlorine.

Arlington County said the region's drinking water meets or exceeds safety standards established by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Virginia Department of Health.

For more information on Arlington’s water system, visit the county’s website or call 703-228-5000.