Columbia’s tap water will soon have a different taste because of changes to water treatment for the summer.
Marketing Supervisor of Columbia Water & Light Connie Kacprowicz said the annual switch from chloramine disinfection to chlorine helps to reduce the amount of corrosion in water pipes.
The change combats corroding nitrification which is found in water systems that use the chloramine process. The problem of nitrification is greater in the summer due to the high temperatures.
“If we switch to chlorine then it helps reduce that nitrification and the nitrification is a problem because it can corrode pipes,” said Kacprowicz.
Kacprowicz said ammonia is added to chlorine to form chloramine. Chloramine has a less distinct taste and smell which is why it is used for the majority of the year.