15 Feb OWASA Annual Water Treatment Change for March 2023
In support of our commitment to provide high-quality drinking water, OWASA will temporarily alter its drinking water treatment process beginning at 12 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, 2023, and continuing through the month of March. Water will remain safe to drink during this time, but customers might notice a change in taste or odor of drinking water.
OWASA uses a combination of chlorine and ammonia, known as chloramines, to disinfect drinking water throughout the majority of the year. Each March, however, we only use chlorine for the disinfection process. This change is only for the month of March and has no impact on the safety of the drinking water.
The change in treatment process is recommended by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and is standard practice among water providers, including neighboring utilities.
To ensure chlorine reaches all 400 miles of water pipes across Chapel Hill and Carrboro, OWASA will “flush” the system. This involves releasing water from fire hydrants in the service area. Flushing may cause some discoloration in water. If discoloration occurs, run the water for a few minutes until it becomes clear. If the discoloration does not clear after a few minutes, please call OWASA at (919) 968-4421.
Throughout the change, water will remain safe to drink. We do understand, however, that some customers may wish to neutralize the chlorine taste. To do so, customers can consider storing water in an open container in the refrigerator; chlorine taste and odor will dissipate over time (this will take place faster if the container is left on the counter before placing in the refrigerator). Customers can also add a few lemon slices to the tap water; the lemon has ascorbic acid, which neutralizes chlorine. Some home filters also use activated carbon to reduce the taste and odor. Lastly, customers can also boil water for one (1) minute and the chlorine will evaporate.
Dialysis patients and aquarium owners should continue to take special precautions to remove traces of ammonia and chlorine from the water prior to use.