Temporary Free-Chlorine Conversion Program

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Starting December 7, 2025, Greensboro will begin its routine Temporary Free-Chlorine Conversion Program, a preventative maintenance program to maintain and optimize the water quality in the City’s drinking water distribution system. During the program, the City will temporarily switch from chloramines, a federal and state standard disinfectant for drinking water, to free chlorination. Both chlorinated and chloraminated water are safe for drinking, cooking, and other general uses. The switch will be in effect until mid-April 2026.

Fill out this request form to learn when the conversion program begins.

Chloramines Disinfection

The cities of Archdale, Burlington, Greensboro, Jamestown, High Point, Randleman, and Reidsville, as well as the Piedmont Triad Water Authority, changed their secondary disinfection process for drinking water from chlorination to chloramination in the summer of 2011. They undertook this change to meet new water quality regulations.

Conversion Program

The process involves switching from the current chloramines to chlorine, which optimizes and stabilizes the water quality in the City's distribution systems. Chloraminated and chlorinated water is safe for everyday use. Both types of water meet federal and state standards for drinking water and are safe for consumption and use.

Water Utilities Involved:

Archdale
Burlington
Greensboro
High Point
Jamestown
Randleman
Reidsville
Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority

What You Should Expect

During the transition, some users may notice temporary color, taste, and odor differences in their water. This is a normal part of the process. The water quality is not affected.

Specialized groups like the following should continue to take special precautions to remove chloramines and chlorine from water prior to use: kidney dialysis patients, fish, pond, and amphibian owners, and some specialized manufacturing businesses and practices.

Customers should seek professional advice concerning removal methods for chlorine and chloramines.

Chlorine Taste and Odor

The City is required by law to provide disinfectant (chlorine) residuals to the taps of customers to protect water from harmful bacteria. Users may occasionally encounter chlorine-type tastes and odors. If you find these objectionable, fill a container with water and store it in the refrigerator for drinking. Leave the cap slightly loose and most of the chlorine smell should dissipate.

You can also use a hand-held pitcher with an activated carbon filter to remove chlorine. Alternatively, you may install a point-of-use water treatment device on a faucet for cooking and drinking water. Be certain the device has been tested by an independent organization for aesthetic (non-health) use.

ANSI/NSF Standard 42 establishes minimum requirements for materials, design and construction, and performance of drinking water devices that reduce specific aesthetic-related contaminants in public and private water supplies. These products usually contain activated carbon that can remove many chemicals that affect taste and odor, including chlorine.

Point-of-use devices contain filter cartridges that must be changed out periodically. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to replace the cartridges. If you plan to store water from these devices, treat the water as a food product. Use clean, airtight containers and refrigerate, as the water is no longer protected from bacteriological contamination.

Specialized Groups

Fish Pond and Aquarium Owners

Special Precautions for Fish Pond and Aquarium Owners
Fish take chlorine and chloramines directly into their bloodstream. Chlorine and chloramines should be removed from water used in fish tanks, ponds, and aquariums. Individuals or businesses that keep fish or other animals in tanks, aquariums, or ponds should ask a pet supply company about removing chlorine and chloramines. Restaurants and grocery stores with lobster tanks should also take special precautions to treat the water.

Protect Your Fish, Amphibians, and Reptiles
Chloramines and chlorine are toxic to both freshwater and saltwater fish. Drinking water with added artificial sea salts must first have ammonia and chlorine removed before use in saltwater fish tanks. Chloramines and chlorine should ideally be removed from water before adding it to a pond used for fish or aquaculture.

Chloraminated and chlorinated water passes through gills, directly entering fish, amphibian, and reptile bloodstreams. Chloramines and chlorine must be removed because they bind to iron in red blood cell hemoglobin, which reduces a cell's capacity to carry oxygen. Consult with pet store professionals about removal methods.

Fill out this request form to learn when the Temporary Free-Chlorine Conversion Program begins and receive a postcard.

Kidney Dialysis Patients

Both chloramines and chlorine are toxic in dialysis water and must be removed from water used in dialysis machines. It is safe for dialysis patients to drink, cook with, and bathe in chloraminated and chlorinated water because the digestive process neutralizes both substances before they enter the bloodstream. All affected kidney dialysis clinics and medical facilities are aware of the City's water disinfection process.

Unlike chlorine, chloramines cannot be removed by boiling water or letting water stand in an open container to dissipate. Medical centers that perform dialysis are responsible for purifying water used in dialysis machines.

Customers with home dialysis equipment should contact their physicians and check with equipment manufacturers for information on proper equipment adjustments.

Fill out this request form to learn when the Temporary Free-Chlorine Conversion Program begins and receive a postcard.

Specialized Businesses and Industries

Businesses and facilities that use highly treated water must ensure their water treatment includes steps to remove not only chlorine, but also chloramines. Restaurants and seafood suppliers with fish tanks, beverage manufacturers, labs, and high-tech operations are examples of businesses that should review current operations and ensure their water is treated correctly.

Review your current treatment methods. Monitoring your system before and after Free-Chlorine Conversion Program will ensure treated water meets your requirements. Contact equipment manufacturers or other suppliers for information about the specific changes that may be needed.

Fill out this request form to learn when the Temporary Free-Chlorine Conversion Program begins and receive a postcard.

Resources
Environmental Protection Agency
Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791

Townsend Water Laboratory
Phone: 336-373-7527
Email