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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.