Montecito Water District: Information on “Super Chlorination”
(Montecito, California, January 23, 2018)
The Boil Water / High Chlorine Content Notice remains in effect for most of the Montecito Water District. In addition to indicating that water is non-potable, this notice informs the public about high chlorine content. It is important to be aware that the Montecito Water District is in the process of super-chlorinating its water system to properly disinfect pipes in preparation for lifting the Boil Water Notice. Super-chlorination began on Sunday, January 21st and may be completed as soon as January 27th. During this period, the presence of super-chlorinated water at customer taps will be intermittent, lasting anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. The chlorine concentration in the system is anticipated to be as high as ±10 ppm (parts per million), which is equivalent to approx. 2.5 times that of a public swimming pool.
Chlorine may be detected by its strong odor. If you smell chlorine (smell is similar to bleach), you should assume that super chlorination is taking place in your area. An elevated concentration of chlorine in a particular area is anticipated to last approximately 24 hours before being flushed out of the system and returned to normal levels. If you are sensitive to chlorine or have any health concerns regarding the use of water with elevated levels of chlorine, it is recommended that you temporarily discontinue any use of this water and consult your health provider or the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department for more information.
Residents are encouraged to remain cognizant when using water and to refrain from using water if they have any concerns. Please refer to montecitowater.com or www.countyofsb.org for more information, including a map of the areas where the boil water / high chlorine content notice is in effect and locations of bottled water distribution centers. As a reminder, areas in Summerland, Upper Toro Canyon, and Sycamore Canyon received a cancellation of the Boil Water Notice prior to the Boil Water / High Chlorine Content notice being issued and will not experience higher than normal chlorine concentrations moving forward. These parcels are indicated in blue on the interactive map.
Until water is fully restored, we ask that you keep your water use limited to essential use only in order to assist our disinfection and flushing processes. This means minimizing outdoor irrigation during this period. Please note that the use of water with a high chlorine concentration on landscaping may have negative implications. For information on these impacts, consult your landscaper or gardener, and please, conserve water.
The public will be informed as soon as testing demonstrates that chlorine levels have reduced to normal drinking water levels and the water is safe to drink. For information on actions you should consider during and after the Boil Water Notice is lifted, please refer to information provided by the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department.
Montecito Water District's mission is to provide an adequate and reliable supply of high quality water to the residents of Montecito and Summerland, at the most reasonable cost. In carrying out this mission, the District places particular emphasis on providing outstanding customer service, conducting its operations in an environmentally sensitive manner, and working cooperatively with other agencies. For additional information visit montecitowater.com, like Montecito Water District on Facebook, and follow on twitter @MontecitoWater.
