BY ALEX CANTATORE

If your Turlock tap water has been giving you flashbacks of swim practice for the last week, you’ll be glad to hear that the City of Turlock ceased chlorination of the City’s water supply on Thursday. The last vestiges of that chlorine smell and taste should wear off sometime over the weekend, according to the City, as fresh water works its way through the pipes.

Turlock began chlorinating its water on Feb. 27 in response to the detection of total coliform bacteria, an organism that is not typically harmfully to humans. The ubiquitous bacteria, which can be found in dirt and on most household surfaces, is tracked by utilities because the organism’s presence can indicate that more dangerous bacteria might have found their way into the water system.

Subsequent tests came back negative for hazardous bacteria like E. Coli or fecal coliform, but Turlock elected to chlorinate the water supply to do away with the total coliform. Test results on Thursday indicated that the total coliform had been eliminated, leading the City to discontinue chlorination.

To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.

Originally published in the Turlock Journal 3/7/2009.
Retrieved from the Turlock Journal Web site.