Beginning on 9/06/10, users of water supplied by the Poughkeepsies' Water Treatment Facility may notice a slight change in the taste of their drinking water. That taste is chlorine.  There will be a change in the chemistry of the disinfectant added to drinking water at the treatment plant.  The disinfectant kills bacteria in the water and helps keep the pipes in the distribution system clean.

The change in water chemistry will not affect the safety of the water for drinking.  This periodic change in disinfectant is a standard water treatment practice that is employed by most facilities that use chloramines as a disinfectant, in order to keep the distribution pipes clean.

The Poughkeepsies' Water Treatment Facility is responsible for treating the water supplied to the City and Town of Poughkeepsie, water for the Dutchess County Water Authority supplied through the Central Dutchess Water Transmission Line to the IBM East Fishkill facility, the Village of Wappingers Falls, Arbors and Greenbush water districts in Hyde Park, and a few customers on Cobey Terrace.

People and businesses that normally take special precautions to remove chloramines from tap water, such as dialysis centers, medical facilities, and aquatic pet owners, should continue to take the same precautions during the switch from chloramines to free chlorine. Most methods for removing chloramines from tap water are effective in removing chlorine.

The City and Town of Poughkeepsie, the Village of Wappingers Falls, and Dutchess County Water and Waste Water Authority will be flushing their respective distribution systems in order to minimize any water quality impacts to customers.  If your water has a noticeable chlorine taste during this period you may be able to reduce the taste by refrigerating a pitcher of drinking water overnight. If you notice any change in the color of your water it should only be temporary. Simply run the cold water from your faucet until it is clear. In the unlikely event that the water remains discolored or turbid please contact your local water authority at the numbers listed below:

City of Poughkeepsie, Distribution Operator Jesse Purcell, 451-4111
Town of Poughkeepsie, Distribution Operator Keith Ballard, 462-6535
Village of Wappingers, Distribution Operator Ken Crusie, 297-3716
All other users, Water Treatment Plant Administrator Randy Alstadt, 451-4173 ext. 2003

Should you have any questions concerning this change please contact Water Plant Administrator Randy Alstadt at 451-4173 ext. 2003.