Yaroslavl Authorities Explain Tap Water Smell

Complaints from Yaroslavl residents about the unpleasant smell of tap water were considered on February 3 at an open meeting of the mayor. Deputy Mayor Nikolai Stepanov noted that the number of appeals on this issue has significantly increased.

«Indeed, the number of appeals regarding the quality of hot water has increased. First and foremost, this is related to the smell of hot water. The situation is quite objective. There were appeals to Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing). At many addresses, representatives of Rospotrebnadzor went out and took samples. Out of the last 11 houses visited by Rospotrebnadzor, only in two was a decrease in quality due to the smell of hot water recorded,» clarified the deputy mayor.

Nikolai Stepanov linked the problem to severe frosts. «In very severe frosts, the temperature of the water supplied from the thermal power plant exceeds 80 degrees Celsius (176°F). If it were to enter the hot water supply, residents could get burns. Therefore, management companies and homeowners associations switch to the return pipeline or there is mixing by a temperature regulator from the return water conduit. Naturally, on the return pipeline, the water quality is lower than on the direct one. Therefore, such instances occur during periods of severe frosts,» he explained.

Mayor Artem Molchanov, concluding the discussion, stated that the situation is not an emergency and is not related to accidents. «There are certain difficulties, but attention must be paid to the interaction of heat supply organizations and management companies. If there are any exceedances, they must be addressed,» noted the city head.

Back in January, residents of various districts of Yaroslavl complained about a similar smell of water. The heat and hot water supplier, PJSC TGC-2 (Territorial Generating Company No. 2), previously explained that the smell may arise due to the switching of hot water supply to the return pipeline, where the water first passes through the house«s heating system and then enters the taps, since the internal networks have not been disinfected.

To check water quality, citizens can contact the Rospotrebnadzor office for Yaroslavl Oblast in one of the following ways:

• through the «Citizen Appeals Reception» service on the Rospotrebnadzor website with authorization via «Gosuslugi»;
• by writing a message to the department«s social media;
• by personally visiting the Office at: Yaroslavl, Voinova Street, Building 1, with a written appeal and an identity document.