Chlorine smell in PSL due to “Free Chlorine” program – WPEC

Report on Port St. Lucie’s Water Quality Maintenance Program

Introduction

The City of Port St. Lucie’s water department is conducting a routine, temporary water treatment initiative, resulting in a noticeable chlorine odor in the municipal tap water. This report details the nature of the program, its operational necessity, and its direct alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The city’s annual maintenance is a critical measure to uphold the principles of SDG 6. By implementing this program, the utility actively works to guarantee access to safe drinking water for its residents.

• Target 6.1: Safe and Affordable Drinking Water: The primary objective of the “free chlorine” treatment is to ensure the long-term safety and potability of the water supply. Daniel Burdett, Superintendent of Water Treatment Facilities, confirmed the water remains safe for consumption throughout the process, directly contributing to this target.
• Target 6.3: Improve Water Quality: The program is designed to improve water quality by reducing potential biological contaminants. The temporary removal of ammonia allows chlorine to more effectively disinfect the water and eliminate bacteria that could otherwise proliferate within the extensive distribution system.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

This water maintenance program is fundamental to protecting public health. By proactively eliminating harmful bacteria from the water supply, the city prevents potential waterborne illnesses, thereby supporting the broader goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all residents.

Program Details and Operational Procedures

Methodology of the “Free Chlorine” Treatment

The initiative involves a temporary modification to the standard water disinfection process. The key elements of the program are as follows:

1. Suspension of Ammonia Use: Ammonia, which is typically used to neutralize the smell of chlorine, is temporarily removed from the treatment process.
2. Enhanced Disinfection: The absence of ammonia increases the potency of the chlorine, allowing for a more thorough disinfection of the entire water distribution system.
3. Program Duration: The maintenance program is scheduled for a 16-day period, concluding on July 22nd.

Monitoring and Compliance

To ensure the program’s effectiveness and maintain safety standards, the city is conducting systematic testing.

• City personnel are flushing fire hydrants at various locations to monitor chlorine levels as the treated water moves through the system.
• Mr. Burdett emphasized that water quality remains well within and below the maximum contaminant levels set by regulatory bodies, ensuring full compliance and public safety.

Public Advisory

Residents are advised that the chlorine odor is a normal consequence of this essential maintenance. The water remains safe to drink. For those who find the odor unpleasant, the smell can be largely mitigated by refrigerating and stirring the water before consumption.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article is exclusively focused on the management of public drinking water. The entire discussion revolves around the Port St. Lucie water department’s “free chlorine” treatment program, a routine initiative designed to ensure the safety and quality of the municipal water supply for its residents. This directly aligns with the core objective of SDG 6, which is to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

  The article directly addresses the “safe” aspect of this target. The superintendent of water treatment facilities, Daniel Burdett, explicitly confirms that the water is safe to drink. The purpose of the 16-day program is described as “essential for maintaining the long-term health and safety of the city’s water supply.” This proactive maintenance is a clear effort to ensure the population continues to have access to safe drinking water.

• Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…

  The “free chlorine” program is a direct measure to improve water quality. The article states that the program’s goal is to eliminate potential bacteria that could thrive on excess ammonia. Burdett emphasizes that chlorine “plays a key role in killing most of the bacteria that could make residents sick.” Furthermore, his statement, “We want to make sure that we don’t very exceed those maximum containment levels at all, so we’re within those limits and below,” directly relates to reducing pollutants and maintaining water quality standards.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.

  The article serves as a case study of a “safely managed drinking water service.” The city’s water department is not just supplying water but is actively managing its quality through a “routine, yearly initiative.” The implementation of the “free chlorine” program, despite the temporary unpleasant smell, is a deliberate action to prevent bacterial contamination and ensure long-term safety for the entire community served by the system, which is the essence of this indicator.

• Implied Indicator: Water Quality Monitoring

  The article describes a direct measurement process used to ensure water quality. It mentions that city workers open fire hydrants “gushing water in various areas of the city” as “part of the testing process, allowing the city to monitor chlorine levels as the treated water flows through the system.” This monitoring of a key disinfectant’s concentration throughout the distribution network is a tangible indicator of the city’s effort to maintain water quality and safety, aligning with the goals of Target 6.3. The commitment to stay below “maximum containment levels” also implies a system of regular monitoring against established health-based standards.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators’ to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: cbs12.com