City of Valentine testing water to determine how long chlorination will continue

VALENTINE, Neb. — The City of Valentine plans to take additional water samples this week to determine whether it can end temporary chlorination of the community’s water system.

As News Channel Nebraska previously reported, the City began adding chlorine to the water supply on November 14 as a precautionary measure after routine testing detected a small number of coliform bacteria in the distribution system. Officials say the results were isolated and can occur naturally, but the City chose to disinfect the system out of an abundance of caution.

During the chlorination period, some residents have been noticing a slight change in taste or smell. City officials say this is normal and indicates the disinfection is working. A press release states that the water remains safe to drink and use for cooking, bathing and laundry.

The City is offering a few tips to reduce the chlorine taste:

• Refrigerate tap water: Letting a pitcher sit in the fridge for several hours helps the smell dissipate.
• Use a filter: Running water through an activated carbon filter can reduce taste and odor.
• Fish and reptiles: Those with sensitive aquatic pets should continue to neutralize chlorine before using tap water in tanks.

According to the Department of Health, coliform bacteria themselves are not likely to cause illness, but their presence signals that other harmful pathogens could be in the system. Most waterborne pathogens come from human or animal feces.

The City’s latest water quality report, covering 2024, found that while some tests were above the maximum contaminant level goal, all but some nitrate were still below federal maximum contaminant limits. Nitrate samples in 2024 ranged from 3.62 to 10.2 ppm; the federal limit is 10 ppm.