As a disinfectant, chlorine is widely used to remove harmful microorganisms from drinking water. In Akron, water provided by the Akron Water Supply Bureau is treated using chlorine to ensure it remains safe as it travels from surface water sources like the Upper Cuyahoga River through the distribution system.

One of chlorine’s key benefits is that it provides a residual disinfectant effect, meaning it continues protecting water as it moves through pipes and storage systems.

Because Akron’s water travels through an extensive distribution network, maintaining this residual is critical to preventing bacterial regrowth. However, this is also why some homeowners may notice a chlorine-like smell or taste in their tap water.

Current water quality data shows:

While safe, chlorine can still affect taste, odor, and overall water experience.

Many Akron/Canton homeowners notice a chlorine-like smell in their tap water at certain times of the year.

This can happen due to:

Because Akron uses surface water sources, factors like rainfall, runoff, and organic material can influence how much disinfectant is needed, which can slightly impact taste and odor. You may notice stronger chlorine smell in hot water (showers especially), first thing in the morning, or after water has been sitting in pipes

Chlorine and chloramine are both used to disinfect drinking water, but they behave differently.

In systems like Akron’s, chlorine is the primary disinfectant, but chloramine may be used or referenced in treatment discussions because it provides longer-lasting protection in some municipal systems.

Key differences:

Both are safe when regulated properly, but each can impact taste and smell differently.

Water utilities may use chloramine as a secondary disinfectant to maintain water quality over long distances.

While Akron primarily relies on chlorine, the goal is the same:

Because Akron’s system serves a large area and relies on reservoirs and pumping infrastructure, maintaining disinfectant levels is essential. However, even effective disinfection can lead to the formation of disinfection byproducts, taste and odor concerns, and sensitivity for some individuals.

If you notice a chlorine-like smell or taste in your water, you may want to consider filtration options designed to reduce chloramines.

This is a common concern in Northeast Ohio homes, especially for those sensitive to disinfectant taste or odor.

Effective solutions include:

These systems are designed to reduce chloramines and improve overall water quality throughout your home.

Akron’s drinking water system uses chlorine as its primary disinfectant to ensure safe drinking water from source to tap.

According to the local water quality report:

Because the system relies on treated surface water and large-scale distribution, chlorine remains the most effective and widely used method for maintaining water safety.

However, even at safe levels, chlorine can still contribute to:

For this reason, many Akron homeowners choose advanced filtration systems to improve water quality beyond basic municipal treatment.