If Your Water Tastes Different Next Week, This Might Be Why

INDIANAPOLIS - Citizens Energy Group is giving customers a heads up that their water may taste a little different in the coming weeks. 

Citizens says customers may notice a slight change to the taste or smell of their tap water due to a change in disinfectant from chloramine to free chlorine.

"The change is conducted annually as preventative maintenance to assure the quality of our drinking water," the utility company said in a press release distributed Tuesday. "This process has been practiced for more than 20 years and is commonly used throughout the drinking water industry."  

This year’s maintenance work is expected to conclude in late February.

Customers may notice a temporary chlorine or “swimming pool” smell in their water; but Citizens says the tap water is still safe to drink and meets all regulatory requirements.

It recommends that customers conducting dialysis treatment or using reverse osmosis systems verify their filters are working appropriately for the type of disinfectant used. 

Customers with aquariums or sensitive plant species may need to take steps to remove the disinfectant prior to use.