FAQs • Arvada, CO • CivicEngage

Why does my water taste or smell different?

There are a few common reasons water may have a different taste or odor.

Chlorine

Arvada water uses free chlorine as a disinfectant to kill any pathogens that could be found in drinking water. The EPA requires a minimum chlorine residual of 0.2 mg/L throughout the entire drinking water system. We try to maintain around 1.0 mg/L of free chlorine throughout the system.
The odor of chlorine may be stronger during the winter when total water usage decreases.
To improve the smell, let your tap run for at least a minute before using the water. This will flush the older water out and bring in fresh, cooler water from the water main in the street. Another suggestion is to keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator, allowing the chlorine taste to dissipate. If you use a point-of-use or pitcher filter to remove chlorine, please maintain it according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

Rotten egg or sulfur

These types of smells are usually caused by organic matter breaking down in your waste drains, typically from hair build-up or food waste. Clean your drains regularly with enzyme-based drain cleaners, or by using mechanical methods like a drain snake.
Another cause of egg or sulfur smells is a dry p-trap, especially in areas like a floor drain near your laundry or water heater. Simply add a few cups of water to the drain as-needed to refill the p-trap(see image below).

p-trap portion of plumbing system

Fishy or earthy

Fishy, earthy, or musky smells are often caused by certain types of algae, particularly in late summer and fall when the days are hot and dry.
A variety of treatment methods help prevent and reduce algae from growing in our reservoir and mitigate it at our treatment facilities.
Sometimes algae can still enter our treatment facilities. Most of the byproducts of these algae are not harmful, just a nuisance. The problem will resolve on its own once they die off.

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Water Quality

There are a few common reasons water may have a different taste or odor.

Chlorine

Arvada water uses free chlorine as a disinfectant to kill any pathogens that could be found in drinking water. The EPA requires a minimum chlorine residual of 0.2 mg/L throughout the entire drinking water system. We try to maintain around 1.0 mg/L of free chlorine throughout the system.
The odor of chlorine may be stronger during the winter when total water usage decreases.
To improve the smell, let your tap run for at least a minute before using the water. This will flush the older water out and bring in fresh, cooler water from the water main in the street. Another suggestion is to keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator, allowing the chlorine taste to dissipate. If you use a point-of-use or pitcher filter to remove chlorine, please maintain it according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

Rotten egg or sulfur

These types of smells are usually caused by organic matter breaking down in your waste drains, typically from hair build-up or food waste. Clean your drains regularly with enzyme-based drain cleaners, or by using mechanical methods like a drain snake.
Another cause of egg or sulfur smells is a dry p-trap, especially in areas like a floor drain near your laundry or water heater. Simply add a few cups of water to the drain as-needed to refill the p-trap(see image below).

p-trap portion of plumbing system

Fishy or earthy

Fishy, earthy, or musky smells are often caused by certain types of algae, particularly in late summer and fall when the days are hot and dry.
A variety of treatment methods help prevent and reduce algae from growing in our reservoir and mitigate it at our treatment facilities.
Sometimes algae can still enter our treatment facilities. Most of the byproducts of these algae are not harmful, just a nuisance. The problem will resolve on its own once they die off.

2. Does Arvada add fluoride to the water?: Fluoride is a naturally occurring compound in the environment and is present at very low levels in our source water. Fluoride is often added to drinking water to promote oral health. In 1967, there was a community-led referendum in Arvada to require the addition of fluoride to the City’s drinking water. We try to maintain the levels of fluoride at about 0.7 mg/L, the amount recommended by the EPA.

Water hardness is the measure of the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water.
Arvada has soft to moderately hard water. It ranges from about 20 mg/L to 100 mg/L, with an average of 84 mg/L (about 5 grains per gallon).
Moderate hardness of the water builds scale on pipes which can help prevent corrosion of plumbing.
Customers may notice white residue deposits in their humidifiers. This can be remedied by only using distilled water in the humidifier. Do not use distilled water for consumption unless directed to do so by your doctor.
Salespeople may try to sell you a water softener. Arvada’s water does not need to be softened. Water softeners replace calcium with sodium. Consuming this water over an extended period of time can potentially lead to heart issues.
- In addition, the systems need to be regularly maintained and if not, can be a source of bacteria in your drinking water. Water softeners may lead to increased corrosion of plumbing fixtures and cause leaching of metals from the pipes in your home.

Red, yellow, brown, or even black water are caused by iron and manganese sediments that have settled in the pipes being released back into the water. This is usually caused from nearby physical disruptions, such as construction projects or hydrant operation. Flush your cold taps for several minutes until the water runs clear. If the water does not seem to clear up on its own, please call us and we can flush nearby hydrants to pull larger volumes of water through.
Black particles are usually caused by gaskets breaking down or falling apart. Clean and replace your faucet aerators and gaskets regularly to help prevent this.
White particles or cloudiness in water are typically just tiny air bubbles. This is more pronounced in the winter when the water is colder and holds more oxygen. Certain faucet aerators can cause this too.
Whole house water softeners or filters can cause problems with your internal water if not properly maintained. Please only install these apparatus if absolutely necessary and maintain them according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Water supplies have been secured through Arvada’s currently-planned build-out. Arvada has purchased water shares with the Gross Reservoir dam expansion project, and is looking to possibly add more storage for our water rights in the future.
Even with “enough” water, it is still important to conserve water. There are many simple steps you can do every day to conserve water and use only what is needed. Large grass lawns can take a lot of water, and reducing the amount of grass space on your property is a great way to reduce water consumption, and help reduce your water bill! Consider xeriscape alternatives for your lawn. Learn more on our Water Saving Programs page.