Change in water expected for Canton Free chlorine used as maintenance program

If you are in the City of Canton utility service area, you might have noticed a strange smell and taste to your tap water. The water can look cloudy and have a slight odor or taste to it.

Beginning Oct. 11, the City of Canton Water Department temporarily returned to the method of using free chlorine as part of an annual preventive maintenance program. The program will end when the system returns to surface water production after the winter season. All water customers who pay their bills directly to the City of Canton Utilities Department will be affected.

In a notice regarding the use of the free chlorine method posted on the City of Canton’s website, the notice states, “this is a routine procedure providing additional protection against bacteria and is a common practice for systems using combined chlorine.”

The notice states that the water will not cause adverse health effects. However, the notice issues caution for those who have aquatic and marine animal species that are sensitive to free chlorine. “Some aquatic and marine animal species are sensitive to free chlorine; persons maintaining aquariums with any sensitive species may wish to contact their pet supply stores regarding dichlorination.”

The notice states that the program is a way of “providing a safe, potable water supply.”

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