Free Chlorine coming to Five Cities for two weeks

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- If you live live in the Five Cities and Avila Beach areas you might taste or smell a change in your tap water starting Monday

The annual "free chlorine" process is conducted by the San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department to maintain safe drinking water standards for water from Lopez Lake.

The County says free chlorine is a stronger disinfection process that the blended chlorine treatment that is typically used.

The two week process helps to ensure the water from Lopez Lake remains free of potentially harmful bacteria.

County Public Works says chlorination is the most common disinfection practice in the drinking water industry.

It says most customers will not need to take any precautions as the water remains safe to drink by federal and state drinking water standards.

Some may notice a taste or odor similar to a swimming pool.

Free chlorine taste and smell can be minimized or removed by boiling water, running water through a carbon filter or filling a container with water and leaving it to vent overnight.

San Luis Obispo County Public Works says the free chlorine process will continue through November 18.