By Brad Kellar
Greenville, TX –
Greenville officials issued a notice Thursday, indicating that water customers may begin noticing a difference in the taste and odor of their water over the next several weeks. Due to lower chlorine residuals in some parts of the city, the Greenville Water Treatment Plant has determined that it is necessary to change its disinfectant practices.
Normally a disinfectant called chloramines is used which is a combination of chlorine and ammonia. It is the preferred disinfectant throughout most of Texas and it is used locally most of the year.
However, higher water temperatures cause it to become less effective during warmer times of the year. To combat this problem, the ammonia is discontinued and free chlorine is used for approximately two weeks. During that time, a change in the aesthetic qualities of the water is likely to be noticeable to some consumers.