City of Melbourne issued the following announcement.
Beginning November 30, 2020, and continuing through February 12, 2021, Melbourne water customers may notice a chlorine odor in their tap water. During this period, the City will be temporarily changing its water disinfection method. This temporary change in water chemistry will not affect the safety of water for drinking.
Chloramine, which is formed from the combination of free chlorine and ammonia, is normally used for disinfection by the City. During the temporary change, free chlorine – without any ammonia – will be used. Changing to free chlorine periodically provides additional protection against microorganism contamination and helps ensure the water you receive remains safe.
Special Cautions for Kidney Dialysis Patients and Fish Owners
During the first two weeks and last two weeks of this 10-week period, as the water in the distribution system transitions from chloramine disinfectant to free chlorine and then back to chloramines, customers who use kidney dialysis machines should be aware that their water may contain chlorine, ammonia, and/or a mixture of the two. During the middle six weeks, the water should contain free chlorine only. Other specialized users of water, such as fish owners, stores and restaurants with fish aquariums and holding tanks for fish and shellfish, along with hospitals, blood/dialysis clinics, or users of home dialysis equipment may need to take action to maintain appropriate water quality during this temporary switch in disinfection. These users are encouraged to contact an appropriate professional for guidance on how to use the equipment during this period. The temporary change in treatment may have adverse effects on dialysis machines and may be harmful to fish and aquatic mammals if not properly addressed.
No Other Actions Needed
For all other users, there are no precautions that you need to take. You do not need to boil your water, purchase bottled water, or purchase special filtration devices. However, if you are sensitive to the taste or smell of chlorine, you can collect water in a container and place it in your refrigerator for a few hours. This will allow much of the chlorine to leave the water.
Where to Get More Information
For more information on this temporary change to the treatment process, please call the City of Melbourne Water Production Division at 321-608-5700, or view this list of see this list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Original source can be found here.
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