Home / Common plumbing problems / Chlorine smell
Plumbing problem
Why does my water smell like chlorine or bleach?
The short answer
Water utilities add a disinfectant, chlorine or chloramine, to kill germs in tap water. CDC says levels up to 4 mg/L (4 ppm) are considered safe in drinking water, and that water containing chlorine can taste and smell different from untreated water (CDC). Your utility’s annual report shows the disinfectant level it measured.
What people usually report
A swimming-pool or bleach smell, usually strongest when cold water first runs, sometimes noticed after a move to a new city or after the utility sends a notice about treatment. The smell may fade from a glass left on the counter for a while.
What official sources say the causes can include
- Disinfection by your utility. Utilities add chlorine or chloramine to tap water to kill germs and prevent illness (CDC). Chloramines have been used as a disinfectant since the 1930s, and EPA says water with chloramines that meets its standards is safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing (U.S. EPA).
- The type of disinfectant. CDC notes that water containing chlorine can taste and smell different from water containing chloramine (CDC), so a change in the smell can follow a change in treatment.
- The amount reaching your tap. University of Georgia Extension puts typical free chlorine in public water at 0.2 to 2.0 ppm, and notes the smell dissipates when water is exposed to air (University of Georgia Extension).
Who needs to remove it
CDC names two cases. Dialysis centers must remove all chemical disinfectants, chlorine and chloramine included, before water is used for dialysis. And fish, reptiles, and amphibians absorb water directly into their bloodstream, so their water needs a removal product from a pet store. Letting water sit for several days can remove chlorine, CDC says, but not chloramine (CDC).
How to find out
- On public water: read your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report. EPA requires community water systems to send one to customers every year by July 1, and you can look yours up with EPA’s CCR search tool or call the utility (U.S. EPA).
- For a lab test: EPA links each state’s drinking water laboratory certification program, which lists certified labs you can pay to test a sample (U.S. EPA).
Call your water utility if the smell changed suddenly. It can tell you whether it adjusted treatment and what level it measures in your area.
Affiliate links
Try this while you wait: screening tools
A home kit or gauge can tell you whether something is worth a closer look. It is a screening tool only. It does not replace a test from a state-certified laboratory or an inspection by a licensed plumber.
- Chlorine test strips on Amazon →A rough reading to compare with the level in your utility’s report.
- Home drinking water test kits on Amazon →Multi-item strips for a first look.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links never changes your price. We have not tested these products, and the links open an Amazon search, not a single recommended item.
Local help
Who to contact
If you are on a public water system, your water utility is the first call for anything that affects the water itself. Its phone number is on your bill and in its annual water quality report.
For work on the pipes and fixtures inside your home, hire a licensed plumber and confirm the license before work starts. Our guide to choosing a plumber covers what to ask. License lookups for the areas our city pages cover:
- FL: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
- IA: Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (PMSB), administered by Iowa DIAL
- MO: Kansas City, MO City Planning & Development (plumbing license, city-issued)
- NE: City of Omaha Building and Development Division (plumbing license, city-issued; Nebraska has no statewide plumbing board)
- NV: Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB), Classification C (plumbing)
- OK: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB)
- TX: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)
Elsewhere, search your state’s plumbing or contractor licensing board. Some cities issue plumbing licenses themselves.
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Common questions
Chlorine smell questions
Is it safe to drink water that smells like chlorine?
CDC says chlorine or chloramine levels up to 4 milligrams per liter (4 parts per million) are considered safe in drinking water, and that water containing chlorine can taste and smell different from untreated water. Whether your water is under that level is in your utility’s annual water quality report, or a test can show it.
Why does my water smell like chlorine all of a sudden?
CDC notes that water treated with chlorine can taste and smell different from water treated with chloramine, so a change in how your utility disinfects can change the smell. Your water utility can tell you whether it changed treatment and what disinfectant level it measures in your area. Its annual water quality report lists the level too.
Who needs to remove chlorine or chloramine from tap water?
CDC names two groups. Dialysis centers must treat water to remove all chemical disinfectants before using it for dialysis. And pet fish, reptiles, or amphibians should not be kept in water containing these disinfectants; pet stores sell removal products. CDC notes that letting water sit for several days can remove chlorine but does not work for chloramine.
Sources and limits
- CDC, About Water Disinfection with Chlorine and Chloramine. Checked 2026-10-05.
- U.S. EPA, Chloramines in Drinking Water. Checked 2026-10-05.
- University of Georgia Extension, Your Household Water Quality: Odors in Your Water (C1016). Checked 2026-10-05.
- U.S. EPA, Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) information for consumers. Checked 2026-10-05.
- U.S. EPA, Find your local Consumer Confidence Report (search tool). Checked 2026-10-05.
- U.S. EPA, Certification programs and certified laboratories for drinking water, by state. Checked 2026-10-05.
- U.S. EPA, Private Drinking Water Wells: Protect Your Home's Water. Checked 2026-10-05.
- CDC, Guidelines for Testing Well Water. Checked 2026-10-05.
This page summarizes guidance published by the agencies and organizations listed above. It is general information, not a diagnosis of your home or your water. Guidance can change, so check the linked source, your water utility, or your local health department before acting on it. PlumbingRepairCost is not affiliated with any agency named here. Spotted an error? Email hello@plumbingrepaircost.com and we will check it against the source.