[Durham INC] Durham Temporarily Changes Water Disinfection Method

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 11253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov

 

For Immediate Release:  February 15, 2010

 

 

Durham Temporarily Changes Water Disinfection Method

Annual Process Required by State and Federal Regulations; Change to
Occur Throughout March

 

DURHAM, N.C. - Durham residents may notice some changes in the taste and
color of their water throughout the month of March.  From Monday,
February 22 through April 1, 2010, the City of Durham will temporarily
stop adding ammonia as a part of the water treatment disinfection
process to meet an annual state and federal water requirement.  

 

During this timeframe, only chlorine will be used for disinfection.  The
City's Water and Sewer Maintenance crews will also be flushing the
entire water system to disperse chlorine throughout the system.  System
flushing will begin on Sunday evening, February 28.  Crews will start
working on the north and south sides of city.  Over the following three
weeks, crews will continue flushing the system, progressing towards the
center of the city.  

 

During March, residents may notice an increase in the chlorine taste and
odor as well as minor discoloration in their water when crews are
working in their neighborhoods.  Fish aquarium and pond owners, as well
as citizens receiving kidney dialysis treatment, should continue to take
special precautions to remove traces of ammonia and chlorine from the
water prior to using it.  Residents should also check their water before
washing any white clothing.  If water discoloration occurs, customers
should run their water for a few minutes until it runs clear.  If the
discoloration persists, contact the Water and Sewer Maintenance Division
of the City's Department of Water Management at (919) 560-4344.  

 

Durham has been using chloramination as the disinfection process since
January 2002.  Chloramination uses both ammonia and chlorine to
disinfect water and reduces the formation of disinfection by-products in
the water distribution system.  City water treatment plant staff will
resume adding ammonia back into the disinfection process on April 1,
2010.

 

Several other neighboring water providers, including Cary and the Orange
Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA), will be carrying out the same
temporary disinfection process change and system flushing during this
time period as well.  

 

For more information on the disinfection process, contact the City's
Department of Water Management at (919) 560-4381.  Questions related to
the flushing program should be directed to the City's Water and Sewer
Maintenance Division of the Department of Water Management at (919)
560-4344.  Citizens may also refer to the City's Web site at 
www.durhamnc.gov/departments/wm/water_supply.cfm for more information
about the water treatment process and disinfection.

 

About the Department of Water Management

The City's Department of Water Management is responsible for the
operation and maintenance of Durham's water supply, water treatment and
water reclamation (wastewater treatment) facilities, the collection and
distribution systems (including meter reading) and customer billing
services.  For more information, visit www.durhamnc.gov/departments/wm.


 

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