The city of Brianerd, Minnesota will not chlorinate its city water supply, the public utilities commission decided this week. With a population of about 13,500 people, Brainered draws its water from an aquifer 170 feet below the city and has never added the chemical to to its water. But last month, a storm created conditions that could have contaminate the water supply with bacteria. So, the system was flushed with chlorine.
With the problems created by the storm resolved, the public utilities commission had to decide whether to continue the use of chlorine. The vote on Tuesday was unanimous to end the use of the chemical. Brainerd residents are fond of the taste of their water and didn’t want it altered.
This was the third time in 30 years that the city’s water supply was compromised. About 80 percent of Minnesota cities chlorinate their water. Most that don’t are towns with 5,000 or fewer residents, making Brainerd one of the largest cities in the state with an unchlorinated water supply.
