THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 20, 1995 TAG: 9505200409
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Briefs
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Winds blowing from Currituck Sound have once again affected the taste of the water at most of the city's taps.
The chloride level at the Northwest River water treatment plant Friday morning was 322 parts per million.
The ``taste threshold,'' when residents can start noticing a change in the taste of their water, occurs at a level of about 250 parts per million.
Chloride can cause an unpleasant taste but is not considered a health risk.
Sodium in the water - which was at 161 parts per million Friday - does not affect taste but can be of concern to residents on severely restricted diets when the level exceeds 20 parts per million.
Although sections of the city are served by Portsmouth or Norfolk water, most residents receive their supply from the Northwest River, which feeds into Currituck Sound.
Chloride and sodium levels can increase when brackish water from the sound blows into the river.
Residents concerned about their tap water can fill containers at the following fire stations: Rokeby, Portlock, Bowers Hill and any Western Branch station.
For updates on the chloride and sodium levels, call the city's water quality hot line at 547-6360.
KEYWORDS: WATER CHESAPEAKE SODIUM CHLORIDE by CNB