Why Does My Water Smell?
Why Does My Water Smell Like Chlorine? High Concentration of Chlorine in the Public Water Supply Chlorine is often present in public water supplies at a level of about 0.2 to 2.0 parts per million (ppm), but in some cases, the chlorine levels can go as high as 5 ppm, which can result in mild chlorine odors. Usually, the odor dissipates naturally within a few minutes after the water is exposed to the air, but it’s worth contacting your water supply authority to ask about the local chlorine levels. Shock Chlorination Homeowners with well systems may use shock chlorination to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants, but this process leaves a high level of chlorine in the water. The chlorine smell tends to fade when the chlorine dissipates, so after shocking the system, it’s a good idea to turn on the outside faucets and let the water run until the smell is gone. Interaction Between Chlorine and Organic Materials in the Pipes Chlorine present in the water may interact with th