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Why Does the Water Taste Different?!

Franklin County Rural Water District #1 purchases water for our customers from the City of Ottawa, the City of Wellsville, and Miami County Rural Water District #2.

On June 15, Miami County RWD#2 discontinued using combined chlorine.  Instead, free chlorine will be used for up to thirty days.  This is part of the District's annual maintenance program.  You may notice a stronger than usual chlorine taste and smell to the water.  This is only temporary and it is necessary to "burn out" the system and kill certain "nitrifying" bacteria that do not show up on the routine sampling.  These bacteria are not harmful to humans or animals.  They tend to cause slime growths within the waterlines and create a higher than normal demand on chlorine, thus lowering disinfection properties.

The chlorine taste may linger after the free chlorine has been discontinued.  In some cases, there may be some natural soluble iron and manganese present in the waterlines.  Free chlorine may further oxidize these substances.

This procedure will only impact our customers served by Miami RWD#2.  Also, our operator may be doing additional line flushing during this period.

If you have any questions regarding the burnout, please do not hesitate to contact our office.