Texarkana Water Update: Why Your Tap Might Smell Like Chlorine in May

Starting May 4, our water will go through a different cleaning process for a short period of time. Texarkana Water Utilities (TWU) will temporarily change how they disinfect our drinking water. This will last about 4 weeks, and don’t worry, the water will still be safe to drink!

What’s Changing with Texarkana Water?

According to a press release, normally, TWU uses a mix of ammonia and chlorine (called chloramine) to disinfect the water. But for this short period, they will only be using chlorine (called "free chlorine").

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Reports show that this is a common shift in chemicals that many water systems do to maintain water quality. TWU has done this before, like in 2015, 2018, 2019, a few times in 2022 and 2023 and more recently last year.

Why is Texarkana Water Utilities Making This Change?

When water sits in pipes for a long time, minerals can build up and cause some discoloration, especially when the water pressure changes. Other things can also form and cause disinfectants to be less effective. Switching to free chlorine will help clean out the pipes, prevent these issues, and make sure the water stays top-quality.

What to Expect During This Time?

Officials at Texarkana Water Utilities said that we might see their staff flushing fire hydrants more often during this time. This helps make sure the free chlorine gets all around the system, especially in areas where water doesn’t flow as much.

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You might notice a mild chlorine smell or slight discoloration in the water, but this is normal and should go away after a couple of weeks. Luckily, it’s not harmful.

Important Notes for Specific Groups of People

Kidney Dialysis Patients: If you're on dialysis, check with your equipment supplier to make sure everything’s set up right. Some equipment may need adjustments during this time.
Aquarium Owners: The process for removing chloramine from water works the same for free chlorine, but it's always good to double-check with where you get your supplies.

TWU is Monitoring Texarkana's Water Quality

TWU will monitor the water daily to make sure everything stays safe and meets state and local standards.