CITY OF BRENHAM TO PERFORM WATER SYSTEM MAINTENANCE IN AUGUST
Starting next month, the City of Brenham public water system will temporarily convert the disinfectant used in its distribution system.
The temporary conversion from chloramine to free chlorine will begin on August 1st and take place through August 30th.
Residents may experience taste and odor changes associated with this type of temporary disinfectant conversion. They may notice some discoloration or cloudiness in the water, and possibly a chlorine odor or taste. Residents who experience this should run the water through the tap until it clears.
Customers may notice open fire hydrants throughout the city during this period to allow flushing of the system, which helps to remove sediment from the pipes and distribute the change in disinfectant. Minor pressure fluctuations and small air pockets may occur.
The city says fire hydrant flushing should remove a majority of the color and odor, but some may reach customer lines during the process. The water is still safe to drink; any odor and color issues will subside as the flushing is completed. At the end of the conversion, the standard process used for disinfection will be reintroduced and the system will return to normal operating conditions.
Public water systems are required to properly disinfect their water and maintain an adequate disinfectant residual in the distribution system. Chloramine, free chlorine combined with ammonia, is widely used as a disinfectant because it persists for long periods while also limiting the formation of disinfection by-product contaminants.
According to the city, prolonged use of chloramine coupled with other factors that can affect water quality, such as high temperatures or stagnation of water, may result in the growth and/or persistence of organic matter within the pipes of the distribution system, which may hinder the ability to maintain an adequate disinfectant residual. A temporary conversion to free chlorine, partnered with flushing activities, helps to rid distribution pipes of this organic matter and improve the overall quality of water.
The City of Brenham has chosen to implement a temporary disinfectant conversion to free chlorine for routine maintenance, to sustain clean water and minimize the potential for the occurrence of harmful bacteria in the water system. The city says there are no indications of bacteriological contamination in its water distribution system at this time, it will use this maintenance period to prevent the formation of nitrifying bacteria and biofilm.
Customers who use tap water for kidney dialysis at home should contact their doctor to advise them if any changes are necessary in their residual disinfectant neutralization procedures. Customers using the water for aquariums should monitor the chlorine residuals.