The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) has scheduled a free chlorine maintenance on the NTMWD Wylie water transmission system and customers’ distribution systems from March 15 to April 10. The free chlorine maintenance does not affect water quality. The water remains safe for use, though some may notice an increased chlorine taste or smell. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) allows water suppliers to perform free chlorine maintenance.
Free chlorine maintenance helps reduce the need for water suppliers to flush systems in order to maintain chloramine residual (required by the TCEQ) during the warm weather periods, thus conserving water. The NTMWD utilizes chloramines, a combination of chlorine and ammonia, in the water treatment process and to provide the disinfectant residual in the transmission and distribution systems as required by the TCEQ. Chloramines provide a longer lasting residual disinfection in water pipelines and storage facilities.