Here's Why Your Water May Begin To Taste Funny

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Falls Church residents may begin to notice a chlorine taste and odor in their water as the water utility conducts its annual flushing of water mains.

The flushing program, conducted by Fairfax Water, will run from March 21 to May 9. The City of Falls Church sold its water utility system to Fairfax Water in 2014.

Each spring, Fairfax Water flushes its water mains by opening fire hydrants and allowing them to flow freely for a short period of time.

During this time, the Fairfax Water treatment process switches from using combined chlorine to free chlorine. This will start on March 21 and end on May 9 for customers who receive water from Washington Aqueduct (areas in green and red on the map). For the remainder of the system, this will begin March 21 and last through June 13 (areas in blue on the map).

Residents who are sensitive to the taste and odor of chlorine may want to keep an open container of drinking water in their refrigerator. This will enable the chlorine to dissipate, reducing the chlorine taste, Fairfax Water said.

Falls Church customers can call the Fairfax Water dispatch operator at 703-698-5613 if they have questions about the program.