Annual Water System Maintenance Planned for March 4 – April 1

The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) will conduct its annual system maintenance, which includes a temporary change in the water disinfectant, between March 4 and April 1.The annual routine change has occurred for over 10 years and is necessary to maintain the regional system and year-round water quality

Disinfection is a critical part of the water treatment process that keeps drinking water free of harmful microorganisms, such as parasites and viruses. During the temporary change, NTMWD suspends adding ammonia and uses only free-chlorine to keep water disinfected as it travels through pipes. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this temporary conversion is a common and safe practice for as many as 40 percent of water providers using chloramines for disinfection.

During the maintenance period, the absence of ammonia may make the chlorine disinfectant more noticeable in your water. There are simple steps to minimize the taste, odor or skin sensitivities including placing a pitcher of water in the refrigerator overnight or adding a slice of citrus to the water. Adding a crushed 1000 mg Vitamin C tablet to bath water will remove the chlorine.