What customers should know about Fayetteville PWC’s annual water change

If your tap water looks, tastes or smells a little different starting March 1, Fayetteville Public Works Commission customers shouldn’t panic.

PWC begins its annual change of water treatment disinfectant on Sunday, the utility announced in a Feb. 23 news release.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality requires public water systems that typically use chloramines for disinfection to make this change for one month each year.

DEQ requires a pause to prevent bacteria from building up in the water system.

During this one-month period, PWC will use free chlorine instead of its standard chloramine disinfectant, the release said. PWC said its customers may notice a slight chlorine odor or temporary changes in the taste or appearance of their water, which is normal and safe.

“PWC will continually monitor disinfectant levels to ensure safety and reliability,” the statement said.

The utility advised customers who normally pretreat their water to remove chloramines – including manufacturers, dialysis providers and aquatic pet owners – to continue to do so throughout the month of March.

PWC said hydrant flushing, which could cause temporary low pressure or slight discoloration, could occur during the changeover period, but that these conditions are only cosmetic and disappear as the system is flushed.

The change affects all PWC customers, whether residential, commercial or wholesale, as well as customers in Fort Bragg and Spring Lake, Hoke County and Stedman.

The changeover will end on April 1.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Why does my water look or taste different in Fayetteville, North Carolina?