Bleach in my water!

JustJoyce_2

Hi, I'm new to this site.

For some years now I have been noticing a taste of antiseptic or bleach in my tap water. I live in a soft water area in the North West of England.

I feel I can hardly drink a glass of water from my own tap and have always boiled it first. In the past I have phoned the Water Board and they tell me that it is better to have it like that than to have germs in it. I agree that I don't want the germs but I cannot just get a quick drink from the tap.

Has anybody experienced this problem? Has anybody else complained and got anywhere? More to the point,what are my rights and should I expect a reduction in what I pay for this substandard water, considering that it is costing me to boil the kettle each time!

WestonDave

Unlikely to be bleach - more likely Chlorine which is used as a disinfectant. You will associate it with bleach because bleach gives off chlorine gas when used. What you can do is keep it short term in a fridge etc (an old squash bottle or a water filter jug like a Brita will do to store it in) as chlorine boils off at low temperatures and so any taint from the treatment process will disappear that way. It may be that you are particularly close to the treatment works so are getting more of it still in the water at your house compared to someone further away where it has had time to disapate.

JustJoyce_2

Thank you WestonDave for your very quick response.

It makes sense now you have mentioned chloride.Now you mention it, I probably do live near to the treatment works as I constantly have this problem.Is this standard practice nationwide?

Candy53

I'm afraid it's quite a common problem. Ours is saturated with chlorine, and the smell actually stung my eyes when I was running the tap to fill the kettle which we always have to do. I even smell it when I flush the toilet.

I won't drink it. It tastes like chemicals, and sometimes like TCP. We are thinking about putting a filter underneath the sink.

Candy

deano4930

If your water is undrinkable and you genuinely think there is an issue then we may be able to come out and check the water (For UU that i presume as you are in the NW).

Call 0800 330033 and speak to an adviser on that number and see what they advise, but i've never really had a complaint when dealing with a customer apart from one today funnily enough!

JustJoyce_2

Hi,Candy53,
Thanks for your reply.Your problem seems greater than mine.I am not aware of the smell in the toilet,but I wouldn't mind it so much in the toilet; it's what comes out of the tap that bothers me. I will also consider a water filter under the sink.

Have you had your water checked by your water provider?

@ Deano: I'll take you up on your advice and hope that you take the call!