San Diegans Report Strong Chlorine Smell In Tap Water; City Claims It鈥檚 鈥淣ormal鈥�

Residents across San Diego are reporting an overwhelming chlorine or bleach odor in their tap water, prompting concerns about water safety and transparency from the City of San Diego.

Multiple community members have taken to and local Facebook groups in recent days to describe the unusual water quality. One Pacific Beach parent said they abruptly ended their child鈥檚 bath after a pungent bleach smell filled the bathroom. Another user noted that they tested the tap water with a pool testing kit and found chlorine levels "through the roof."

A resident from La Jolla corroborated the reports, stating the water "smelled and tasted like pool water." That individual reported the incident to the City鈥檚 water dispatch line, prompting city workers to flush hydrants on their street that same evening. The City reportedly called back later to confirm the water had cleared. Despite these incidents, no official public notification has been issued as of this writing although calls for more transparency are growing.

According to the City of San Diego鈥檚 most recent , last issued , the city's tap water met all state and federal safety standards. The report outlines regular disinfection practices, typically using ozone and chloramines, and maintains that average chlorine residual levels were well within the EPA鈥檚 maximum contaminant limits.

A previously issued in 2005 sheds light on a possible explanation for the strong chlorine or bleach smell currently reported by residents. According to the document, the city has historically performed temporary disinfection changes - switching from chloramines (a combination of chlorine and ammonia) to chlorine-only treatments - to maintain water quality. These switches can cause a noticeable increase in chlorine odor and taste but are typically considered safe under federal and state standards. The FAQ also acknowledged that certain vulnerable populations, such as dialysis patients, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems, may need to take extra precautions or consult healthcare providers during such periods.

While no official announcement has been made regarding a similar treatment change in 2025, the document illustrates how prior disinfection adjustments have led to similar public concerns. Without timely public notification or updated water quality data from the city, residents are left to speculate. Some have taken to calling the city鈥檚 24-hour water emergency line (619.515.3525), while others have reached out to local news outlets for answers.

Residents are encouraged not to drink tap water that has an unusually strong chemical smell and to contact the city immediately with reports. We contacted the City of San Diego鈥檚 Public Utilities Department and Mayor Todd Gloria鈥檚 office for comment and received the below response.

"Chlorine is a normal and essential part of the water treatment process as a disinfectant, and it is regularly added to holding tank reservoirs to help maintain the water quality in those reservoirs," explained the City of San Diego Suervising Public Information Officer Jennifer McBride. "Our holding tank reservoirs, including the Bay View reservoir, are monitored weekly, and it was determined that the Bay View reservoir required additional chlorine to ensure water quality. During the process of adding additional chlorine in the reservoir, some customers who receive water from this reservoir may have noticed an increase in the smell and taste of chlorine in their water. Operationally, the level of chlorine in the water never exceeded regulatory limits, and crews flushed lines downstream of the reservoir as part of this temporary adjustment. While some customers may have noticed this temporary adjustment, it should not be noticeable going forward."

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is provided.听