Water is all-natural, but not everything in nature is good to drink. Untreated water may contain bacteria and other disease-bearing material. City tap water contains certain chemicals designed to promote healthy drinkers and a reliable water distribution system.
Tap water contains soluble chlorine which is constantly escaping as chlorine gas.
This is the chlorine you smell, but the concentration is very small and will not hurt you. We use only enough chlorine to ensure safe drinking water. Like any other business, it would be a waste of our money and your money to use any more chlorine than necessary. We have to put enough chlorine in the water at the plant to make sure we meet the minimum state standards for residual chlorine at any point in the water distribution system. Drinking water produced by the city of Roanoke is strictly regulated by the Commonwealth of Virginia.