The Department of Public Works is temporarily changing the way it disinfects water throughout the Five Cities area.
From Nov. 4-18, the Lopez Project distribution system along with Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Oceano, Avila Beach, and Port San Luis will be converting to free chlorine, which is a stronger disinfection process than the blended chlorine treatment the county typically uses.
Officials say many residents won't notice a different taste or smell but for those who do, free chlorine can be minimized or removed by boiling water, running it through a filter or filling a container with water and leaving it to vent overnight.
Public Works says this is the most common disinfection practice used in the drinking water industry and the water remains safe to drink by federal and state drinking water standards.
