HILLSBOROUGH -- The Town of Hillsborough will use chlorine instead of chloramines, a compound of chlorine and ammonia, to disinfect public drinking water during March.
The annual change helps ensure a high level of disinfection in the community's water mains. North Carolina regulations require Hillsborough and other utilities that normally use chloramines for disinfection to use chlorine for one month each year. The City of Durham, Orange Water and Sewer Authority and other municipal public water systems in the region also typically use chlorine instead of chloramines for disinfection in March.
Some customers may notice that Hillsborough's drinking water will have a chlorine taste or odor in March. However, the water will be safe to drink.
Water mains will be flushed to ensure that water with chlorine goes through the entire water system.
Customers who use Hillsborough water for special purposes or for processes involving careful control of water characteristics are encouraged to get advice from an appropriate technical source, such as a filter vendor or service company, about whether and how to make adjustments to their use of Hillsborough water during the one-month period when chlorine is used for disinfection.
Customers are invited to contact the town with any questions or comments about the use of chlorine in March and about the characteristics of Hillsborough's drinking water. Contact Utilities Analyst Julie Lindley http://www.ci.hillsborough.nc.us/contact/utilities-analyst/ by e-mail or by phone at 732-1270 Ext. 72. Or contact Water Plant Superintendent Russell Bateman http://www.ci.hillsborough.nc.us/contact/water-plant-superintendent/ by e-mail or phone at 732-3621.
