Frequently Asked Questions

The city’s drinking water meets and/or exceeds all federal and state regulations.  Each year we release a Consumer Confidence Report that provides specific details about our water quality, which can be found Here.  

Yes.  The Water Treatment Plant (WTP) treats all the City’s drinking water using reverse osmosis followed by remineralization to adjust the finished water to the appropriate hardness and alkalinity.  Reverse Osmosis provides the highest level of filtration available in the industry.  The finished water is chlorinated with enough chlorine to maintain a residual of 0.20 ppm at the furthest end of the distribution system as mandated by Federal and State regulations.  We do not add fluoride to the drinking water.

 The presence of a chlorine residual in the distribution system is a key indicator that no contaminants are entering the drinking water system and is monitored by WTP operators daily.   We are also required to collect Coliform Bacteria samples throughout the distribution system which are analyzed by a third-party environmental laboratory.  The results are sent to the City and Washington Department of Health regulators.   A positive test result would immediately trigger a resampling protocol followed by public announcements and direct communication with any affected residents.  Finally, refer to question 1 for information on the Consumer Confidence Report.

If there is a noticeable smell or taste of chlorine, you can try the following:

1. Pour water from the cold water tap into a glass pitcher and store in the refrigerator. Although plastic containers can be used for storing water, some plastic can change the taste of water. Allowing the water to sit overnight in the refrigerator should be sufficient to remove the taste of chlorine.
2. Boiling tap water for 5 minutes should remove most of the chlorine taste in water. As the water cools, it should be refrigerated. Chlorine is a disinfectant, and once it is removed, water must be treated like any other food product. Keep covered and use it within 3 days. Tip: Add 1 or 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to refrigerated water for a more pleasant tasting drink.

The following are commonly occurring situations that can cause your water to appear discolored:

1. Sediment settles in the bottom of the water heater tank and should be flushed out annually. This will help with discolored water that is generally noticed in the bathtub. It will also improve the longevity of your hot water tank. So, if your hot water is discolored and the cold water is clear, this may be a simple solution to your problem.
2. Another common cause of discoloration could be a dead-end main line serving your home. This would be noticed in the cold water.  The same sediment that ends up in your hot water tank also comes to rest in the bottom of the main line and, even more so, in dead ends. If you think this problem is occurring, contact the city. The city has a routine flushing program, however dead-end lines can need extra flushing on occasion.
3. Construction activity in your neighborhood may cause discoloration. This problem occurs from fire hydrant usage, water line maintenance or broken water line repair.
4. Firefighting activities can stir up sediment in the pipes causing discoloration.

Anything that causes the water to flow at a higher velocity than normal can stir up the sediment which may result in discoloration. After a main repair or shut down, the field crew makes great efforts to flush the sediment from the line to ensure clear water at your tap. It’s important to realize that even though your water is discolored, it is still safe to drink. 

1. If your water is discolored, it’s most likely a result of regular maintenance activities and can be remedied by simply flushing your water from the taps for 1-2 minutes.
2. Check your hot water heater user manual.  Hot water tanks and tankless water heaters both need to be flushed regularly and failure to adhere to the manufacture’s recommendations can cause premature failure.   Please check your specific models user manual for specific instructions.

For immediate concerns regarding water quality, contact the Water Treatment Plant at (360)384-4607.