The City of Augusta Water Department will be conducting a free-chlorine burn to disinfect the water distribution system July 9, 2018, through the end of the month.
Water utilities with chloramine disinfection use free-chlorine burns and system flushes to provide routine maintenance. Free-chlorine burns also reduce the potential for coliform or other types of bacteria in the system. During the free-chlorine burn, the water disinfection process will be changed from chloramines to free chlorine, which is a stronger and faster-acting disinfectant.
Fire hydrants will be open periodically to flush the distribution system, helping to remove sediment from pipes and distribute chlorine. After the free-chlorine burn, standard disinfection chemicals will be reintroduced to the system.
(Read more: Augusta Gazette)