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Residents of Cedar Park, Round Rock, Leander and Liberty Hill may soon notice a chlorine-like smell or taste in their tap water as local and regional water utilities are set to begin a chlorine rinse Aug. 3.
What you need to know
Tap water will remain safe to drink, bathe in, water plants with and use for other everyday purposes, a news release states.
The chlorine rinse, which will last about a month, serves to disinfect the water system and remove buildup from pipes.
To improve the taste and odor of tap water, residents can store it in an open container in the fridge to let the chlorine dissipate.
Some residents may notice cloudy or discolored water as public works crews flush fire hydrants to ensure the disinfectant reaches all parts of the system, the release states. Anyone who experiences this should run cold water from a bathtub or outdoor faucet for several minutes until the water clears.
If water is discolored, the city of Cedar Park recommends waiting to wash laundry in order to avoid staining clothes. If discoloration does not clear within an hour, residents should report the problem to the city, the release states. Reports can be filed online or by calling 311.
A closer look
The participating utilities are temporarily switching their disinfectant from chloramine to free chlorine. The chlorine rinse is part of a coordinated effort, as the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority is doing a chlorine rinse at the same time.
The BCRUA is a partnership between the cities of Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock and supplies a portion of each city’s water. Liberty Hill is affected by the BCRUA rinse because it buys some of its water from Leander.
Chlorine rinses are considered a water treatment best practice and are recommended by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency, the release states.
