The city of Round Rock will conduct a chlorine flush of its waterlines from May 27 to June 27 to maintain the effectiveness of the city's water distribution system. Residents may notice a chlorine smell or taste during the process, but can still safely drink, bathe and water plants.

Explained

The chlorine flush is a part of the disinfectant conversion to maintain proper levels of chloramine, a mix of chlorine and ammonia, and free chlorine. Both disinfectants maintain water safety and eliminate pathogens as water flows from treatment facilities to customers.

Round Rock has used chloramine to disinfect waterlines in recent years, and will employ the temporary switch to free chlorine to combat the challenges that can occur over time, such as:

• Buildup inside pipes that make disinfectants less effective
• Bacteria growth that can happen when using chloramine for long periods
• Disinfect areas with low water flow

What residents should know

Residents who notice a strong chlorine smell or taste can collect water and allow it to sit refrigerated until the chlorine naturally dissipates. Standard water filtration systems will also remove chlorine.

Residents may also see public works crew members flush fire hydrants in certain parts of the city to clear out stagnant water. This process can cause harmless sediments to stir up and discolor water, and residents can let their taps run for several minutes until the water flows clear.

To report an issue, residents can fill out this city form.