The 50,000 customers of the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority shouldn’t worry if their water is discolored or smells like chlorine. It’s the result of a state-mandated flushing of the local distribution system.
Like other water authorities across the state, the Beaver Falls authority is required annually to flush its system. As part of that process, the water authority on Tuesday starting using chlorine as the primary disinfectant instead of chloramines that are typically used.
As a result, customers “may experience discolored water and/or a noticeable odor of chlorine in the water,” according to a legal notice filed Tuesday.
“Please be aware that these are all normal conditions, and nothing is wrong with the water,” the legal notice stated.
The flushing started Tuesday and is expected to last through mid-July.
Tracy Price, an official with the water authority, said Tuesday that customers closest to the Eastvale plant will likely experience smells or discoloration at a higher frequency than customers farther out in the system.
“The closer you are to the plant, the stronger potential there is for chlorine residual,” she said.
Price added that the water authority is preparing for a barrage of phone calls from customers but reiterated that the potential discoloration and smells are “completely normal.” Customers experiencing discolored water should open their cold water tap run for several minutes until the water clears.
Anyone with questions or concerns may call the authority office at 724-846-2400.