Water in Murphy may change in taste and smell during maintenance

Water supplier conducts annual system maintenance

Taste and odor of water may change, but quality remains high

Murphy, Texas -- (March 5, 2018) Between now and the end of March, the water delivered to Murphy homes and businesses by the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) will be undergoing the annual winter chlorine maintenance process.

“Murphy purchases water from NTMWD and runs that water through our distribution system, in the same condition it arrives to us,” says Teresa Thompson, Customer Service Manager. “Because the District is conducting its annual maintenance of the water system, the taste and odor of the water may be slightly affected.”

While the smell and taste may be perceptible to those individuals who are sensitive to such minor changes, the quality of the water will remain safe for all uses. The maintenance started on Feb. 26 and will conclude on March 26.

The water supplier uses chloramines, a combination of chlorine and ammonia to provide the disinfectant residual in the transmission and distribution systems as required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Chloramines provide a longer lasting residual disinfection in water pipelines and storage facilities.

However, for the annual winter maintenance cycle, the water treatment process strictly treats with chlorine only, thereby producing the change in smell and taste.

"Annual chlorine maintenance helps reduce the need for the supplier to flush systems to maintain chloramine residual during the warm weather periods," added Thompson. "This process virtually eliminates hydrant flushing in the summer, when the water supply is most needed."

This and similar maintenance protocols have been used for almost a century and remain the safest and most effective way to maintain the water system at its highest level of productivity.

ABOUT MURPHY -- Murphy is a fast-growing community located in Collin County. The population is approximately 19,330, generally characterized as highly educated with a median household income above the state average. With more than 70 percent of the land developed, the community is dominated by single-family residences. City planners strive to preserve a country feel while exhibiting an aggressive economic development stance. Money Magazine has dubbed Murphy as the 27th Best Place to Live in America for small cities, and D Magazine placed Murphy as the fifth best suburb in the 2014 list, where it has consistently ranked in the top 10.