Residents of the Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) will soon experience some changes to their local water supply. The chemical used to treat the water will switch from chlorine to chloramine to match what's already used in neighboring Santa Maria.
The reason: starting in July, Nipomo is expected to throw the switch on its new water project bringing in water from Santa Maria.
NCSD Manager Michael LeBrun said there will be a noticeable, positive change in odor and taste.
"Chlorine is more volatile, and so you'll get a taste or odor if you have a chlorinated water supply," said LeBrun. "With Chloramine, that's no the case, it's more stable.
Chloramines are a group of chemical compounds that contain chlorine and ammonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It's been used to treat water supplies since 1929. In California, several of the state's largest cities use Chloramine to disinfect their drinking water.
The NCSD's new water source will also introduce fluoridation to the mix. Santa Maria adds fluoride to its drinking water and that will now blend with Nipomo's supply which is not fluoridated.
Lebrun said the NCSD water project has been a couple of decades in the making and brings a secondary water source to Nipomo residents for the first time ever.