Heads Up, Texarkana! Your Water Disinfection is Changing

Texarkana, get ready! On Monday, May 12, 202,5, Texarkana Water Utilities will begin a temporary change to the method of disinfecting our drinking water.

TWA Chlorine Conversion in Texarkana

According to TWO officials, the process will take approximately 3 weeks to complete, and the water will remain safe to drink. TWU normally uses chloramine, a mixture of ammonia and chlorine, to disinfect the water, but during this process, TWU will use chlorine only, also known as “free chlorine." The periodic temporary conversion from chloramine to free chlorine is a widely used preventative maintenance procedure for municipal water systems in Texas and Arkansas. Free chlorine will help cleanse the lines, reduce the occurrence of nitrification and biofilm, and ensure that they provide quality water for the customers served by Texarkana Water Utilities.

What to Expect

Residents may see more flushing of fire hydrants by TWU staff during this process. If not cleaned, minerals may attach to pipes and release when pressure changes, leading to discoloration. As a result, some water users may experience a slight change in the aesthetics of their water during the conversion, including a noticeable “chlorine odor” and slight discoloration. This should lessen after a couple of weeks and does not affect the safety of the water supply. TWU will monitor chlorine levels and water-quality standards in the distribution system daily to ensure the safety of the water and that all state and regulatory standards are met.

Kidney dialysis patients should speak with their equipment supplier about
different equipment that may have to be used during the process. Anyone with aquariums should stay alert, and local pet stores have also been informed of the conversion that could affect the fish.

For more information, please visit the TWU website.