Why does Jurupa water smell?

Jurupa to link to Norco, Corona water supply







10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, September 19, 2007

By PAIGE AUSTIN
The Press-Enterprise

Corona, Norco and Jurupa will test a new pipeline that connects Jurupa to the Norco and Corona water supply systems, an action that officials say will protect the communities in case of disaster.

Residents in Corona will notice a slight chlorine taste and odor from the disinfectant used in the Norco and Jurupa water supplies.

The temporary inconvenience is a small price to pay for the safety and security of the community in the event of a major disaster, said West Curry, operations manager for the Corona Department of Water and Power.

"We'll be able to move water back and forth between the agencies," Curry said. "In a disaster like (Hurricane) Katrina or a major earthquake, we'll be able to supply their communities' needs and they can do the same for us."

Around the nation and the state, cities are doing more to prepare for major disasters since Hurricane Katrina, which left entire communities without drinkable water for days, he added.

This project is one of many under way to better protect the region in case of water emergencies, said Norco Public Works Director Bill Thompson.

Today through Oct. 24, the agencies will essentially be conducting a test run of the new piping connection, Thompson said.

During that time, the city of Corona will adopt Norco and Jurupa's use of free chlorine as a disinfectant. It might taste different to Corona residents but has no health impact, Curry said.

Dialysis treatment centers within the city will temporarily alter the chemicals they use to purify their materials, but all medical providers have been notified, Curry added.

Because Corona's usual disinfectant includes ammonia, fish owners in the city typically use metabisulfite to treat their tanks and koi ponds.

During the city's temporary switches in disinfectants, fish owners wouldn't need to use as much metabisulfite as they usually do, Curry said.

However, he added, they could use the same amount of the metabisulfite without causing any harm to the fish.

For more information about the project, call 951-736-2234.

Reach Paige Austin at 951-893-2106 or paustin@PE.com