Portland chlorination project
We’re 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.
What does the project involve?
The aim of this project is to help remove harmless microorganisms from within the water supply network and improve water quality in the long term.
It’s likely that some of our customers will notice a change in the taste and/or odour of their drinking water as it may have a stronger ‘chlorine’ taste or smell.
We’re planning to start the process on 28 July 2025, although customers are unlikely to notice any impact until the following week as the water moves from the storage reservoir and into the system.
What will you be doing?
We’re temporarily changing the disinfection system from chloramination to chlorination. This is a routine procedure that many water authorities do from time to time. We’re advising the community of this temporary project as some customers will notice a slight change in the taste or smell of their water.
How long will it last?
The process is scheduled to start on Monday 28 July and is likely to continue for around two months. The community will be notified when operations return to normal.
Why is this change being made?
Changing the type of disinfection will help to remove harmless microorganisms from within the water supply network.
While these microorganisms are harmless, their presence makes it more difficult to maintain stable chlorine levels in the water supply.
Questions and Answers
Listed below are some common questions and answers. If you’d like further information, please contact us on 1300 926 666.
Safe drinking water supplies are critical to our health and wellbeing. Water from untreated sources such as streams, bores, dams and rainwater tanks can sometimes contain harmful pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, that cause serious illness or, in some cases, death.
Disinfection has made the single greatest improvement to drinking water safety in modern times. As a result, many water-borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid have been effectively controlled.
No. This project is being done to maintain and improve the long-term safety and quality of the drinking water supply.
Chlorine has been used around the world for more than 100 years to disinfect drinking water supplies.
Chloramine can have a different taste to chlorine. A smell of chorine is not always a bad thing as it’s a good indication that the water is effectively disinfected
and is safe to drink.
No, the chlorine residual will be within safe levels and comply with Australian Drinking Water Guideline limits. We constantly monitor the chlorine at our water treatment plant and we have precautions in place to prevent overdoses. You may notice a change in chorine smell or taste – this is due to the change in the disinfection process. The amount of chlorine will stay within safe levels.
You can reduce any additional chlorine taste or smell you may notice in your drinking water.
Try filling a jug from your tap and store it in the fridge for a few hours before drinking. Chlorine dissipates naturally over time and is less noticeable in cold water, so this will reduce the impact of any additional chlorine taste.
No special precautions are needed. You should continue to treat any water used for fish tanks in the same manner as usual. Most aquarium water conditioners will work just as effectively on chlorinated water as on chloraminated water. If unsure, you should check with your aquarium supplier.
No. The Quality Water for Wannon project, once constructed, will use a completely different water treatment process.
Portland community
