This morning’s tap water advisory for large sections of Northwest D.C. has been canceled as of about 3:30 p.m. this afternoon. DC WASA officials say tests conducted over the past several hours confirm water in the affected area is now safe for drinking, bathing, cooking and cleaning. The advisory was issued this morning due to a temporary spike in chlorine levels. As an added precaution, WASA recommends that residents inside the affected zone discard any…

Photo by Paul Frederiksen A reader writes in to the DCist tip line:I know DC adds chlorine to the year this time every year, but has it seemed especially bad to anyone else this week? I smell like a pool (after showering, of course). Any word on when they’ll reduce the chlorine levels again?Most of you are probably aware that once a year, the Washington Aqueduct switches the disinfectant used in its water treatment…

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority desperately needs to change its image. After years of disturbing lead findings, toxic chlorine pollutants, chronically broken fire hydrants, and the like, they’re hardly seen as the District’s most efficient agency. It won’t be an easy task to make people forget WASA’s inadequacies, but new General Manager George Hawkins has to start somewhere — so why not get the ball rolling with a new logo? In…