In March and early-April, OWASA customers will notice a chlorine taste and smell in their drinking water.

During this period, OWASA will use chlorine instead of chloramines to disinfect drinking water, in accord with recommendations from the NC Department of Environmental Quality.

OWASA uses chlorine for disinfection one month per year to ensure a high level of disinfection in the water system.

It is a stronger disinfectant than chloramines and with that comes a stronger taste and odor.

OWASA released a list of a few things you can do to remove or neutralize the chlorine in your water:

  • Add a few lemon slices to a pitcher of water. The lemon has ascorbic acid, which neutralizes chlorine.
  • Let water sit for a day or so. OWASA suggests keeping the water in an open container in a refrigerator.
  • Boil the water for one minute to evaporate the chlorine.
  • Filter the water with activated carbon. Water pitchers with activated carbon filters are sold locally.

As part of this process, OWASA will be releasing water from fire hydrants in some areas, which may cause discolored drinking water.

Do not drink or wash clothes with this water, instead run cold water through a spigot or faucet for five to 10 minutes. If it does not clear up after that, call OWASA at 919-968-4421.

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