Durham’s Drinking Water Continues to Meet High Quality Standards

Durham residents should be on the lookout for the City of Durham’s 2011 Water Quality Report, arriving in their mailboxes beginning this week. 

The report, “Water: A to Z,” details the City’s water quality analytical results from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011, and shows that Durham’s drinking water was in full compliance with all state and federal drinking water quality standards. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency requires water systems with more than 25 connections to compile an annual report for distribution to customers. 

“We are very pleased to share with our customers the good news about the on-going high quality of the drinking water we provide and other information about the water treatment process and delivery system,” said Don Greeley, director of the City’s Water Management Department. In addition to information mandated by state and federal regulations, the report also contains updates about upgrades and improvements to the City’s water treatment facilities.

Approximately 125,000 copies of “Water: A to Z” have been mailed to local postal customers in an effort to reach all Durham water customers, including those living in multi-family housing that may not receive water bills. Copies of the report will be made available throughout the year to residents and visitors at public facilities, community centers, and during community events. The report is also available online. 

City of Durham Makes Changes To Water Beginning Today

Durham residents may notice a slight change in the taste and color of their water throughout the month of March. Beginning today through April 1, 2012, the City of Durham will temporarily stop adding ammonia as a part of the water treatment disinfection process in order to meet an annual state and federal water requirement. 

During this time, only chlorine will be used for disinfection. The City’s Water and Sewer Maintenance Division will also begin flushing the entire water system to allow chlorine to disperse throughout the system. System flushing will begin on Sunday, March 4 and will be conducted Sundays through Thursdays between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. to minimize the impact to customers. During the three-week flushing process, staff will start working in the north and south sides of the city and progress toward the center of the city. 

During this process, residents may also notice slight discoloration in their water when crews are working in their neighborhoods. Residents receiving kidney dialysis treatment as well as aquarium and pond owners should continue to take special precautions to remove traces of ammonia and chlorine from the water prior to using it. Residents should also check their water before washing white clothing. If water discoloration occurs, customers should run their water for a few minutes until it becomes clear.  If water discoloration persists, contact the Water and Sewer Maintenance Division of the City’s Water Management Department at (919) 560-4344. 

Durham has been using chloramination as the disinfection process since January 2002. Chloramination uses both ammonia and chlorine to disinfect water and reduces the formation of disinfection by-products in the water distribution system. City water treatment plant staff will resume adding ammonia into the disinfection process on April 1, 2012.

Several other neighboring water providers, including Cary, Raleigh and the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA), will be carrying out the same temporary disinfection process change and system flushing during this time period. 

For more information on the disinfection process, contact the City’s Water Management Department at (919) 560-4381. Questions related to the flushing program should be directed to the City’s Water and Sewer Maintenance Division at (919) 560-4344. Information about the City’s water treatment and disinfection process may also be found on the City’s website.

Lots of Good News to Drink In

Just a quick bit today as everyone tries to dig out of the in-box-voicemail-IM-turkey-coma burden that this day always represents...and that quick bit is really two bits of really good news.

First is that, and those who live here know this empirically, Durham's water is tasty! It ranks third statewide in the North Carolina American Water Works Association and Water Environment Association's annual competition. It won top honors in 1999 and 2006.

Second, it looks like Durham will soon be ranked as the state's fourth largest city, ousting Winston-Salem from their current position and trailing behind Greensboro, Raleigh and Charlotte respectively. Census numbers cite the population at 237,214 putting Durham at 84th place on the national list.