Florida Drinking Water Operator "B" Practice Test

What adjustment is recommended if water complaints indicate a smell similar to a swimming pool in a system using breakpoint chlorination?

1. Decrease Chlorine Dose

2. Increase Chlorine Dose

3. Flush the Distribution System

4. Add Ammonia

The correct answer is: Increase Chlorine Dose

The recommended adjustment in this scenario is to increase the chlorine dose. When complaints about a chlorine-like smell arise, it often indicates that there may be a deficiency in the chlorine residual necessary to effectively eliminate pathogens and maintain water quality. In systems using breakpoint chlorination, increasing the chlorine dose can help ensure that any remaining organic matter is oxidized, allowing for the full disinfection process to occur. The breakpoint chlorination process involves adding chlorine to water until a certain point, known as the "breakpoint," is reached, at which point the chlorine will not only disinfect the water but also help to eliminate chlorinated compounds that contribute to undesirable odors. By increasing the chlorine dose, the operator can push the chlorination process past that breakpoint, thereby reducing the chlorine-like smell that could signal inadequate treatment. While other actions like decreasing the chlorine dose or flushing the distribution system could be considered in different contexts, in this case, the focus should be on ensuring there is an adequate chlorine residual to maintain water quality and mitigate odor issues. Adding ammonia is typically done to form chloramines, which may not address the immediate concern of excessive chlorination odors and could complicate the treatment process.