The hot topic this summer may not be conservation, but the change in water production here in Victoria. The City of Victoria is nearing completion of its 21 million gallon per day surface water treatment plant. Historically, the city has relied on groundwater produced from deep wells drilled into the Gulf Coast Aquifer. This water is disinfected with chlorine and chlorine dioxide. The new surface water supply will be disinfected with chloramines, which is a combination of ammonia and chlorine.
Chloramines are a slightly weaker, but much longer-lasting disinfectant.
Prior to converting to surface water, the city intends to implement chloramination as its primary disinfectant process. This is scheduled to begin in mid-May. Chloramines are a common disinfectant for surface water supplies and will be used at the new surface water treatment plant. As the city converts to surface water, customers may experience red water. This is due to applying a new water source with different chemical characteristics to existing piping that has historically transmitted ground water.