We partnered with North Harris County Regional Water Authority (NHCRWA) and Inframark to host a Town Hall meeting to present on surface water conversion.
Click here to watch the Town Hall meeting video.
Important Message Regarding Surface Water Conversion Below
Harris County Fresh Water Supply District 61 is changing the disinfectant used in your drinking water from chlorine to chloramine beginning November 1, 2025. This change has come about due to a change in our source water. The NHCRWA will be providing us with surface water. This change is intended to benefit our customers by reducing the levels of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in the system, while still providing protection from waterborne diseases. A majority of public water systems in Texas that rely on surface water for their potable water supplies use chloramine disinfectant. Public water systems like City of Houston, City of Austin and Dallas Water Utilities have been using chloramine disinfection for several decades.
However, the change to chloramine can potentially impact people that rely on dialysis machines. Chloramine, like chlorine, must be removed from the water prior to being used in the dialysis machines. A condition known as hemolytic anemia can occur if the disinfectant is not completely removed from the water that is used for the dialysate. Consequently, the pretreatment scheme used for the dialysis machines must include some means, such as a charcoal filter, for removing the chloramine prior to November 1, 2025. Medical facilities should also determine if additional precautions are required for other medical equipment. Dialysis patients should contact their medical facilities for guidance on modifications needed to their dialysis machines and procedures.
Chloramine, like chlorine, must also be removed from the water before it is added to aquariums or fish ponds, including fish and lobster tanks in restaurants and stores. The ammonia used to form chloramines is toxic to fish and other aquatic life as it enters the bloodstream directly through the gills. If you have a fish tank, please make sure that the water conditioning chemicals or filters that you are using are designed for use in water that has been treated with chloramine. You may need to change the type of filter that you use for the fish tank. Leaving water to sit is not a reliable method for removing chloramine from the water.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.