North Texas Municipal Water District Addresses Temporary Disinfection Change

The North Texas Municipal Water District recently addressed a temporary change in disinfectant that started this past Monday and will continue until March 30.

According to the NTMWD, the utility uses proven and highly effective disinfection methods to treat the water it delivers to 2.3 million area residents. This disinfectant change is an annual maintenance procedure that is essential for keeping water safe as it travels across the district's 2,200-square-mile service area.

Why Is Disinfection Needed?

According to NTMWD, disinfection is a critical part of the water treatment process. The first step treats the water at the plant and the second step adds disinfectant to maintain water quality as the water travels through pipes to homes and businesses. Both steps are needed to keep tap water free of parasites and viruses.

The NTMWD uses a combination of ozone and free chlorine to disinfect water at the treatment plant and then later adds ammonia to form chloramines before it leaves the plant.

What Happens During the Change?

Every spring for approximately one month, the utility suspends the typical use of ammonia to allow the remaining chlorine to keep the water disinfected as it travels through the system.

The change helps maintain the system and high water quality year-round. It must be done before summer because hotter temperatures can increase the potential for bacterial growth in pipes.

Some residents may notice a change in taste, smell, or skin contact with chlorine. Learn how to minimize those effects here.

Ongoing water testing as required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is performed throughout the process and made available to the public.