Work Starting on Longview’s Water System

The City of Longview is conducting maintenance throughout the water supply system. The work started Monday and will run through May 20th. Periodically, the distribution system needs to be flushed with chlorinated water as a preventive measure. Although there may be no noticeable change, the maintenance may result in temporary taste, odor, or color or water pressure issues during that time. However, the water will continue to be safe for use. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality support this process as a necessary and effective measure for maintaining water quality. According to Director of Public Works Rolin McPhee, “The purpose of the work is to do a system wide cleansing and flushing of the water supply system. The process that we are doing is conceptually similar to the idea of doing a chlorine shock for a swimming pool.”

McPhee went on to say, “Generally, there should be no noticeable changes in water quality during the work, but we realize that some people may notice some temporary changes to the taste, odor, color, or water pressure. However, the water will remain safe for use. This process will help the City to ensure that the water distribution system is optimized to maintain the delivery of the highest quality of drinking water to the customers.”

During the time period, the City of Longview will make some temporary adjustments to disinfectant levels, but will remain within safe ranges. In addition, the City will be flushing portions of the system at hydrants throughout the community on a continuous basis during the time period. The City of Longview is dedicated to making sure the water is safe to drink and will be monitoring the disinfectant levels continually during the work. The Water Purification Division has contacted the wholesale customers and medical service providers to notify them of this temporary change.

If customers experience temporary discoloration issues, individuals may choose to temporarily flush faucets, tubs and toilets until their water has cleared. If customers experience an odor or taste issue in water, it does not mean it is unsafe to drink. Users of kidney dialysis machines and owners of tropical fish aquariums are encouraged to make appropriate modifications to their routines. This is only a concern for aquariums if they are changing their water during the maintenance period. For customers with concerns about water quality at their residence, please contact the Water and Sewer Emergency number at (903) 236-3030 and they will dispatch crews to further flush the area. Nuisance issues will go away as the work is completed. Customers can safely consume and use their drinking water as normal during this time period. You can go to http://longviewtexas.gov/waterquality for more detailed information.