Water in Horry County may have a strong chlorine taste and smell. Here’s why

If you live in Little River, Conway, Loris, Aynor, Gallivants Ferry, Green Sea or communities west of the Waccamaw River, you may notice a change to your water this March.

Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority began flushing the waterlines in these areas near the beginning of the month. Fire hydrants are opened and left to flow to remove any sediment, and may result in temporary water discoloration or sediment in your water. GSWSA recommends checking water color before running laundry.

Throughout the year, safe levels of chloramines are present in the water to keep it clean, but once a year during the flushing period, free-chlorine is added as a higher disinfectant.

“The reason for that is to get a good scouring of the distribution system, and that’s typically done with any kind of system that uses chloramines,” said GSWSA Chief of Field Operations Wade Lewis.

A strong odor, taste of chlorine in water

Residents may notice a stronger odor and taste of chlorine in their water, but the concentration of chlorine does not change, Lewis said. Chlorine levels remain between 2 and 4 mg/L as per state regulations. The water quality is maintained for safe consumption.

Water flushing happens yearly before water temperatures rise. Pathogens thrive in warmer water, so they flush while the water is colder to avoid problems. The flushing takes about 30 days, Lewis said.

For those who are more sensitive to the change in odor and taste, Lewis recommends using filtered water or leaving a drinking container open for about a day to let the chlorine dissipate.