The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) began their annual water system maintenance on March 1. This maintenance procedure is essential to keeping water safe as it travels to your tap across a 2,200-square-mile service area. The temporary change will last through March 29.

The need for disinfection:

Disinfection is a critical part of water treatment to keep water safe. During NTMWD’s normal water treatment processes, disinfection is a two-step process that first treats the water at the plant and second adds disinfectant to maintain water quality as it travels long distances through pipes to homes and businesses

Temporary change in disinfection:
Each spring for about one month, NTMWD suspends the typical use of ammonia to allow the remaining chlorine to keep the water disinfected as it travels through the system. This temporary change in disinfectant helps maintain the system and high water quality year round. It’s important to do this before summer because hotter temperatures can increase the potential for bacterial growth in pipes.

During this change, you may see staff performing "hydrant flushing." This process helps the chlorine-disinfected water through the system by flushing water from fire hydrants.

You also may notice a different odor and/or taste. Even at low concentrations, some people are more sensitive to taste, smell, and skin contact with chlorine. NTMWD has provided simple steps to help minimize the effects of this.