The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) will temporarily change the disinfectant in its water treatment process from March 2-30. The annual, routine change is necessary to maintain the regional system and year round water quality.
Please note, this process only affects water customers in the Austin Ranch area, east of the railroad tracks, where water is purchased from the City of Plano.
Disinfection is a critical part of the water treatment process that keeps drinking water free of harmful microorganisms, such as parasites and viruses. Disinfection involves a two-step process that first treats the water at the treatment plant and then chloramine disinfectant (chlorine + ammonia) is added to maintain water quality on its journey through the miles of pipes to homes and businesses. During the temporary change, NTMWD suspends adding ammonia and uses 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 practice for many water providers using chloramines for disinfection.
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