San Angelo Water System to Temporarily Change Method of Disinfecting Drinking Supply

 

The City of San Angelo’s Water Utilities Department will temporarily change the method of disinfection used in its public water supply, beginning June 2.

The Water Department normally uses chloramine, a mixture of ammonia and chlorine, to disinfect water. Beginning Monday, June 2, and for approximately four weeks after, the Water Department will use chlorine only, also known as “free chlorine.” The periodic, temporary conversion from chloramines to free chlorine -- a normal procedure for municipal water systems -- ensures water safety in distribution lines by ridding the mains of accumulated biological growths, thus yielding the highest quality of drinking water.

Citizens may see more flushing of fire hydrants by City staff during this process. Certain water lines with low flow must be flushed more often to ensure the free chlorinated water is adequately moving through the system. The Water Department does not like doing this during the City’s water conservation program, but in some areas it will be necessary. 

Free chlorine is a stronger disinfectant than chloramine. As a result, water users may experience a slight change in the aesthetics of their water during the conversion, including a noticeable “chlorine odor” and slight discoloration. Most symptoms should lessen after a couple of weeks and do not affect the safety of the water supply.

The Water Utilities Department encourages kidney dialysis patients to speak with their equipment supplier; different types of equipment may have varying needs and require adjustments. The City has contacted local hospitals to alert them of the change.

The processes most aquariums have for removing chloramines from water should do the same with free chlorine and need no adjustments. Even so, fish tank operators are encouraged to confirm that with their equipment supplier. Local pet stores have also been informed of the conversion.

The Water Department will monitor chlorine levels and water-quality standards in the distribution system on a daily basis to ensure the safety of the water and that all state and regulatory standards are met.

Frequently Asked Questions

Water system’s temporary conversion to free chlorine, June 2014

The City of San Angelo’s Water Utilities Department will change the disinfectant used in the public water system from chloramine to free chlorine beginning June 2 for approximately four weeks. 

Why is our water system making these changes to our disinfection process? Our water system normally uses ammonia and chlorine as the primary means of disinfection.  The combination of these two chemicals form chloramine, the most common form of disinfection used in the United States for water systems utilizing lakes and rivers as their source. Occasionally, these systems must revert back to free chlorine as their disinfectant for a brief period of time for proper maintenance of the distribution system. Free chlorine works much better than chloramine in controlling thin biofilms of organics and microbes that can build up in a distribution system over time. This is a common preventive maintenance practice used by most water systems that use chloramine as the primary disinfectant.

When will this start and how long will it last? The conversion will start June 2 and last approximately four weeks.

Will I need to do anything differently during this change? No action is necessary.  Residents may drink and use their water as normal.

What changes to the water quality will I notice during this period? When initially converting to free chlorine, you may notice more of a chlorine taste and odor to your water, especially in showers and sinks, where water splashes. There may also be slight discoloration in the water in areas of the city with low flows in the distribution pipes. These symptoms should lessen after the first couple of weeks of the change, but may still be present (although less noticeable) during the four-week period.

I have a fish tank. How will it affect my fish? We recommend you check with your equipment supplier. The processes you have in place to remove chloramines in the water should also remove free chlorine. No change or adjustment should be needed. 

I’ve heard this can affect kidney dialysis machines. Is this true? We recommend you check with your equipment supplier as different equipment may have different needs or adjustments.  

Will the City do anything to lessen the taste and odors we might experience during this change? Yes, the City will implement procedures to reduce effects as much as possible. However, changes are likely to occur and may persist. City staff will be monitoring the free chlorine residuals at various locationsthroughout the distribution system each day to ensure they are at correct levels. You may also see more flushing of fire hydrants by City staff during this process. Certain water lines with low flow must be flushed more often to ensure the free chlorinated water is adequately moving through the system. The Water Utilities Department does not like doing this during our water conservation program, but in some areas it will be necessary. 

Is there a possibility of the free chlorine bleaching my clothes? Free chlorine is a much stronger disinfectant than chloramine. So, even though it may have more of a chlorine odor, the disinfectant residuals in the system will actually be lower than they currently are. We don’t expect to see any problems with bleaching of clothes. However, if you have brand-new clothes that have never been washed, you might wash them first in cold water to let their colors “set” before using a hot water wash.

Will this process improve the quality of my water once it is completed in four weeks? Typically after a change to free chlorine and then back to chloramine, less disinfectant is needed to maintain residuals in the distribution system. So if you are sensitive to the taste and smell of chloramine, you should see an improvement in water quality after the conversion.

Is there a way to reduce or remove the chlorine taste and odor during this period? Yes. A carbon filter is effective at removing free chlorine taste and odor, as well as chloramines. If you have an existing carbon filter on your faucet, reverse-osmosis (RO) system or cartridge under the sink, these should remove any additional taste and odor during this period. These are available at local retail stores. Some are inexpensive and easy to install.

Does the taste and odor from chlorine affect everyone the same? No. The taste and odor of chlorine in drinking water does not affect some people at all. Others who have a higher sensitivity to smells could be affected. Free chlorine tends to give water a “swimming pool” smell.

Whom can I contact with additional questions or concerns? Please call the Water Utilities Department at 325-657-4300 for more information.

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Comments

Can we come up with ANY semi-useful solutions to recapture the water flushed out of the fire hydrants? I realize there isn't a full-proof method, but some is better than none.
can we bring barrels and have them filled up when they flush the hydrants to use on trees and shrubs instead of running the water down the street?
jdgt, Thu, 05/15/2014 - 13:53
Conserving water in our drought-stricken city would require common sense. There is clearly ZERO evidence of any of that around here!
Bball, Thu, 05/15/2014 - 15:13
Yup, definitely need to recapture that water and not waste it. Shouldn't we be able to hook up a fire hose and capture it in a water truck and take back to river or lake?
As long as they don't put freakin fluoride in the water...oh and don't use the "change" as an excuse to jack up water bills like they already have done before (when a line would break people's water bills skyrocketed)...and why not go ahead and make these changes which require gargantuous amounts of wasting water right in the middle of a drought crisis while a conservation program is in effect... makes a lot of logical sense right? I mean why couldn't they just flush the hydrants water into another tank and haul the water back to lake nasworthy? seriously how much would it cost just to do that?....But really as long as they don't tax the collection of rainwater like some cities in other states are doing elsewhere (all we need is rain now), its already bad enough being taxed for harvesting your own water (water wells)... like hey i know its yours and you get it for free, so you have to pay someone else to use it...WTF taxing water wells is a fraudulent sham just to take more of your money. tho i never really got off on the idea of making people have to pay for something that is so vital to keeping them alive. Idk maybe its just me.... but without water a person dies...so why is it so normal to make some one have to pay someone else to stay alive? Some call it Capitalism... I call it greed. San angelo may call it generating revenue. Water...i'm so0o glad its not the same as oil.
The water taste so bad now that I can't see the chlorine taste hurting it any, may be better.

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