Water Quality

Water Quality Report

You can now view the 2021 Water Quality Report for the City of Cedar Hill online.

Taste & Odors

All water has its own unique taste and odor characteristics. Cedar Hill purchases all of its water from Dallas. Like many other water suppliers, we occasionally experience changes in taste and odor. In the summer and early fall, algae in area lakes occasionally give water an earthy taste and odor.

Temperature change and excessive rain can also alter taste. These changes do not affect the safety of the water, and for the most part, can be corrected with flushing fire hydrants in the water system.

Chlorine Smell

During the treatment process, chlorine is added to water as a disinfectant. Before the water leaves the treatment plant, ammonia is added to form chloramines to keep the water disinfected while it is distributed to homes and businesses. Chloramines may impart a chlorinous, or medicinal, taste or odor to your drinking water. Chloramines, rather than chlorine, are used to maintain a disinfectant residual because they are more stable, form fewer disinfection by-products, and tend to produce less offensive tastes and odors.

Earthy / Musty

An earthy or musty smell, particularly in hot water, may be the result of an algal bloom in the untreated water supply. Algae thrive at different times of the year in reservoirs. Taste and odor producing algae typically bloom in the late summer or fall. Although algae are removed during the treatment process, some of their metabolites may be left behind.

The two most common metabolites are geosmin and 2-methylisoborneal (MIB). Even though these compounds are harmless, the human senses of taste and smell are extremely sensitive to them and can detect them in the water at concentrations as low as 5 parts per trillion.

Rotten Egg Smell

A rotten egg smell is more of an indicator of dry drain pipes. To alleviate this you may try to periodically run water through all of your pipes. An example may be a guest bathroom this is used infrequently. The pipes may dry out and contribute to the odor. Running water through these pipes should eliminate the problem.

Discoloration

When the naturally formed scale on the interior of the piping system is disturbed, and when turbulence with the water happens, some water discoloration may occur for several hours. The white discoloration of water usually means air is entrapped in the water. Running your faucets can usually eliminate white discoloration.

Other discolorations are sometimes caused by calcium deposits in your water heater. If you notice the discoloration primarily when running hot water you may want to consult with a plumber and have your hot water checked. If discoloration continues for an extended period of time, please notify the City of Cedar Hill Utility Technician.