LONG BEACH : Chlorine in Water Prompts Complaints
Residents in some sections of the city have complained that drinking water has turned cloudy and smells like bleach, but water officials insist that the water is safe to drink and should return to normal soon.
The Long Beach Water Department has been adding chlorine, a stronger disinfectant, to the water supply this month to ensure that the water remains safe to drink during the warm summer months when demand is higher, said department spokesman Robert Cole.
The city has been flushing water from fire hydrants to reduce the presence of the old disinfectants, called chloramines. The flushing has stirred up minerals inside older pipes in some areas of the city, giving water a cloudy appearance, Cole said.
The city had not flushed since 1987 during the annual changeovers to chlorine because of the drought.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
