Temporary changes to Portland’s water
Wannon Water is temporarily changing the way Portland’s water is disinfected with the goal of maintaining the long-term safety and quality of the drinking water supply.
This involves temporarily switching from chloramine disinfection to free chlorine disinfection for several weeks. This is a routine procedure that many water authorities do from time to time.
Branch Manager Operations Wayne Murdoch said changing the type of disinfection would help remove harmless microorganisms from within the water supply network and ensure Portland’s water supply pipework remains clean.
“While these microorganisms are harmless, their presence makes it more difficult to maintain stable chlorine levels in the water supply and may at times contribute to some minor colour,” Mr Murdoch said.
He said additional fire hydrant flushing would take place across Portland to speed up the process, allowing normal operations to resume as quickly as possible.
Customers who use tap water for home kidney dialysis should consult their healthcare provider for advice on whether any changes are necessary in their disinfection residual neutralisation procedures. Customers using tap water in aquariums should continue to treat any water used for fish tanks with an appropriate water conditioner or consult their aquarium vendors for specialised advice.
Mr Murdoch said the chlorine residual would be within safe levels at all times and comply with the Department of Health’s Australian Drinking Water Guideline limits.
“This initial change will help us maintain stable levels of chlorine throughout the water supply to ensure the long-term safety and quality of drinking water for our Portland customers.”
Wannon Water said customers could reduce any additional chlorine taste or smell in their drinking water by filling a jug from their tap and storing it in the fridge for a few hours before drinking. This is because chlorine dissipates naturally over time and is less noticeable in cold water.Temporary changes to Portland’s water
