Once water leaves the public mains and enters household plumbing, especially for long stagnation periods, water quality may change, resulting in taste and odor problems.

WASA recommends the following steps to improve the quality of drinking water in the home.

The quality of drinking water is affected as it flows through WASA’s 1300-mile distribution system. Water quality may deteriorate before it enters homes.

- If water has been stagnant for more than six (6) hours, run the cold water for approximately two minutes from the faucet before using for drinking or cooking.
- Routinely remove and clean the faucet strainer and aerator to remove debris.
- Regularly replace home water filters as instructed by the manufacturer since used filters can elevate bacteria levels and accumulate metals.
- Drain hot water heaters annually to remove sediment and calcium particles that can affect water pressure.