News Flash

Durham Resumes Ammonia Addition in Drinking Water on April 10

Action Concludes City’s Annual Water Disinfection Changeover Process

DURHAM, N.C. — Effective Monday, April 10, the City of Durham Department of Water Management resumed adding ammonia to the City’s drinking water as part of the City’s water treatment process. This action is the last step of the department’s annual temporary water disinfection changeover process. Citywide hydrant flushing, another critical component of the process, has also concluded. Throughout these activities, the City’s drinking water remained safe to drink and met all state and federal standards. The City would like to thank everyone for their patience during this process.

Background
Durham has used chlorine and ammonia as its primary disinfection method since 2002. Together, the chemicals form a compound called chloramine, which safely and effectively disinfects water while also reducing the formation of disinfection byproducts in the water distribution system.  

During this changeover, several of Durham’s interconnected neighboring utilities in the Triangle – including Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Morrisville, and Orange Water and Sewer Authority – also conducted their annual disinfection process and flushing. Coordinating the timing is helpful, as it allows providers to continue sharing and receiving supplemental water from neighboring communities if needed.

For more information about chloramination and the water disinfection process, contact Water Management at (919) 560-4381 or visit http://durhamnc.gov/1196/. 

About the Department of Water Management
The 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. The department has a wide variety of support divisions and programs to maintain the existing infrastructure that provide these integral services, and strives to be a responsible steward of the City’s physical assets. For information, visit http://durhamnc.gov/944/, like Durham Saves Water on Facebook, and follow @DurhamWater on Twitter.

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