Some Bartlesville residents are noticing discolored water due to the Temporary Free Chlorine Conversion for the city’s water system, which got underway on Sept. 18.
The six-week process involves temporarily switching from chloramines to free chlorine to disinfect the water system, which is necessary because lines were not flushed as they normally would have been due to ongoing drought conditions in the area.
The taste and odor of chlorine may be noticeable as each area is being flushed, and water discoloration may occur.
“The process is a common industry standard and is routinely scheduled by some water providers using chloramine disinfection in an effort to ensure water quality throughout the distribution system. It involves switching from chloramines, which is what the City normally uses for disinfection, to free chlorine, which is a stronger and faster-acting disinfectant,” said Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen.
Free chlorine conversion is endorsed and supported by both agencies that oversee water quality in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Environment Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency.
“It is important to note that the water is safe to drink and use during the conversion process,” said Lauritsen.
What you may notice
- The public and local water customers may notice open fire hydrants or flushing valves during the project to allow flushing of the system, which helps distribute the change in disinfectant.
- The temporary change may cause some discoloration or cloudiness in the water, minor pressure fluctuations and a strong chlorine odor and taste. If this is experienced, running water may help minimize the effects. Fire hydrant and valve flushing should remove a majority of the color and odor, but some will reach customer lines during the process.
- The increase in the chlorine concentration in the water system may cause customers to experience eye or skin irritations and other possible effects similar to swimming pools with a high dose of chlorine.
- Customers who use tap water for kidney dialysis at home should contact their doctor to determine if any changes are necessary in their residual disinfectant neutralization procedures.
- Customers utilizing the water for aquariums should monitor the chlorine residuals.