“If you are tasting chlorine you are tasting safety,” says Centre Wellington councillor Walt Visser.
As council members recently discussed drinking water quality reports, Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj said it was brought to her attention over the weekend about the smell of the chlorine in the water.
She agreed there is a noticeable smell.
Councillor Walt Visser explained that since Walkerton, rules regarding water have changed.
“We used to have a Chevrolet system which worked very well. Now we have a Cadilac XDL system, but that does not improve the taste.”
He explained before new rules were in place, water was tested for chlorine as it went into the water distribution system.
“Now it is tested at the end of the pipeline.”
He added “as you know chlorine is a gas which dissipates – so we have to really pump it up to reach the needed levels.”
Visser said when he first became involved in dealing with the water system, testing was only done for eight elements.
“Now we are testing for over 110. I think it is well beyond that.”
While he agreed the water might not taste as good, “if you don’t like the taste of the chlorine, I suggest you put the water in a jug and in the refrigerator for half an hour and the chlorine taste should go away.”
“It does work,” the mayor agreed.
Despite the taste, Visser said the water supply is potable and safe.
