TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa residents: In the next few days when you turn on your water faucet, you might notice a slightly different smell than you’re used to.
That’s just a sign of your water being disinfected, according to the Tampa Water Department.
Starting from May 6 to May 27, the department will add chlorine to Tampa water as a disinfectant rather than monochloramine, which, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, can make water more corrosive.
The department says despite the cleanse, you will still be able to drink and use water as you normally would. The chlorine used serves as a strong disinfectant that stunts the growth of bacteria and removes it in water mains, service lines and water.
If you have any sensitivity to chlorine, the department says you can:
- Run the tap a few minutes before every use.
- Fill a pitcher of water and let it sit for several hours to allow any residual chlorine to evaporate.
- Install a carbon filter on kitchen/bathroom faucets or shower heads or replace existing filters with new ones.
Special steps to remove monochloramine from tap water are also advised for customers and businesses including dialysis centers, according to the department.
Drinking water meets all federal and state safety standards as this method is commonly practiced throughout the Tampa Bay area and other public water systems around the country, the release said.
The department says its staff also continuously monitor chlorine levels throughout its service area.
For more information about the chlorine disinfection process click here.