Your tap water may taste a little different next month, but the North Texas Municipal Water District says it’s all part of the annual treatment to keep drinking water safe.

From Sunday, March 1, through Monday, March 30, NTMWD will temporarily change the disinfectant in its water treatment process. 

“Safeguarding public health and ensuring safe water is our highest priority,” said Zeke Campbell, NTMWD Director of Water Treatment and Conveyance. “Our advanced treatment processes are among the most effective available, providing the communities we serve with safe and reliable drinking water.”

Disinfection is a critical part of the water treatment process that keeps drinking water free of harmful microorganisms, such as parasites and viruses, Campbell said. 

NTMWD’s water treatment plants use a two-step disinfection process where the water is treated, and then chloramine disinfectant (chlorine + ammonia) is added to maintain the water quality as it journeys through miles of pipes to homes and businesses. 

During the temporary change, NTMWD suspends adding ammonia and uses chlorine only to keep the water disinfected. This temporary change helps prepare the pipes for summer, when hotter temperatures can increase the potential for bacterial growth.

“This routine, temporary adjustment in water disinfectant is essential for maintaining optimal conditions within our pipelines and ensuring year-round water quality,” Campbell said. “This standard maintenance practice does not increase chlorine levels, and the water remains safe to drink, consistently meeting or exceeding safe drinking water standards.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this temporary conversion is a common practice for many water providers using chloramines for disinfection. NTMWD follows the specified guidelines set forth by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on how public water systems disinfect drinking water.

The absence of ammonia during these few weeks may make the chlorine disinfectant more noticeable to some people. Simple steps to minimize taste, odor, or skin sensitivities include placing a pitcher of water in the refrigerator overnight or adding a slice of citrus to the water. 

Adding a crushed 1000 mg Vitamin C tablet to bath water will neutralize the chlorine.

NTMWD said it has conducted the temporary change in water disinfectant for over fifteen years and continues to meet safe drinking water standards, earning recognition from the TCEQ as a Superior Public Water System.

During the change, the communities served by NTMWD may help move the chlorine-disinfected water through the system faster by flushing water from fire hydrants. The combination of converting to chlorine disinfectant and flushing the pipes helps maintain the system and safe water year-round.

Created in 1951, the North Texas Municipal Water District provides wholesale water, wastewater and solid waste disposal services to a to a service area covering 2,200 square miles with about 2.3 million water customers and 1.6 million wastewater customers.

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