Chlorine Dioxide in Aberdeen Florida Water

Unhealthy Levels of Chlorine Dioxide in the Water Supply of Aberdeen Florida Homes

Chlorine dioxide is a strong disinfectant sometimes used in drinking water systems to control microbes. When its presence is higher than you’d like, it can give tap water a chemical taste or noticeable odor that carries into showers and laundry. In humid, subtropical Aberdeen — where many South Florida supplies are hard — homeowners sometimes report drier-feeling hair or skin after bathing when oxidizing smells are present. If your water suddenly seems harsher or has an unusual scent, chlorine dioxide is one of the possible causes worth investigating.

Because chlorine dioxide is reactive, it can create related byproducts while doing its job in the distribution system, and those compounds can affect taste and smell even when water looks clear. Warm or hot water and water that sits in pipes can make odors more noticeable, which is important in Aberdeen’s climate and in homes with hard water that encourages scale buildup. If you drink bottled water but still notice smells at faucets or in the shower, treating water at the point of entry — the whole-house approach — improves water used for cooking, bathing, laundry and everyday cleaning throughout your Aberdeen home.