Potable drinking water in a portion of northeastern Fairfax County, as well as in Arlington and the District of Columbia, may have a slightly, well, hinky taste for the next few months, as the disinfectant used to treat it has its annual swap-out.
Through May 15, water supplied by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to agencies in those locales will be treated with chlorine to clean the pipes, part an a routine spring-cleaning effort. For the remainder of the year, water is treated with chloramine.
Chlorine has a slightly more pungent odor to many noses and to some can be slightly irritating when consumed. Running the tap for several minutes, letting the water sit for several hours or using a filtration system should help.
The switchover is starting slightly earlier this year to accommodate a rehabilitation project at the Washington Aqueduct, which supplies the water.
