I've been noticing my tap water has a much stronger chlorine smell lately, especially when I turn on the hot water. Has Kentucky American Water changed something about their treatment process, or is this related to seasonal adjustments?

You're experiencing exactly what Kentucky American Water talks about during their annual spring maintenance program. Each spring, Kentucky American Water conducts water main flushing to reduce deposits and sediments in the water distribution system that can build up over time, and this annual process ensures their water is of the highest quality for customers. What you're smelling is the result of their temporary adjustment of the treatment process at water treatment facilities from using chloramine to free chlorine.

So they're actually switching the type of disinfectant they use?

Exactly. Chloramine and chlorine are common disinfectants used in the water treatment process to remove microbial contaminants like bacteria and viruses from water, and chloramine is a water disinfectant that is formed when ammonia is added in combination with chlorine. During the spring cleaning, they turn off the ammonia feed in the water treatment plants. The amount of chlorine in the water stays the same, but customers may notice a stronger taste or smell of chlorine.

Is this something I should be worried about?

Not at all. This poses no health risk and the water remains safe to drink. If you want to reduce the smell, there's an easy fix: refrigerate cold tap water in an open pitcher, and within a few hours, the chlorine taste or smell will disappear. The stronger chlorine smell with hot water makes sense because heat tends to intensify chemical odors. This temporary change typically lasts from mid-April through late May.

That timing matches exactly what I've been experiencing. Good to know it's just routine maintenance keeping our water quality high.

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