By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Jul 31, 2006 at 5:06 PM
Over the past few days I've noticed a distinctly chlorine-y odor coming out of the taps at home and this morning when I turned on the shower it really hit me. It's been happening quite a bit lately -- often after big storms, it seems -- but no one else here at OnMilwaukee.com has experienced the same thing and the taps here in the office don't offer the same wading pool atmosphere.

According to the Web site of the Milwaukee Water Works, which brings us our fresh water, "Chlorine is used as a disinfectant by most public water systems to kill harmful micro-organisms during the water treatment process. The use of chlorine, in carefully controlled dosages, provides a significant public health improvement. The Milwaukee Water Works uses a liquid form of chlorine.

"As the water leaves the plant, ammonia is added to change the free chlorine to chloramine. This is a very stable form of chlorine disinfectant that maintains the residual protection in the distribution system. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires water utilities to maintain a detectable level of disinfectant throughout the distribution system to maintain bacteriological protection."

The water quality department of the Water Works closes at 2:30 p.m. so I'll don't have an answer as to why this is happening, but I'll get back to you on what's up when I find out. In the meantime, let me know if you have the same problem.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He can be heard weekly on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories.