Hello neighbors: starting July 8, our tap water might smell a little different and even look a bit green or brown for short stretches, and that’s totally normal. The City of Georgetown is kicking off its annual Free Chlorine Rinse, a routine maintenance step that keeps our water system squeaky clean heading into the warmer months. Water’s still safe to drink, cook with, and water your garden, but if you’ve got a fish tank, a pool, or a dialysis machine at home, there are a few things you’ll want to know.
Here’s the official advisory from Georgetown Water Utility with all the details:
Water system maintenance with chlorine starts July 8
The Georgetown Water Utility will perform system maintenance beginning Wednesday, July 8, through Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. During this system wide maintenance, Georgetown water customers may notice chlorine odors and a green or brown tint to the water for brief periods of time. Customers could notice these changes starting Wednesday or Thursday, July 8 or 9.
Concentrations maintained during the conversion will be well within state and federal drinking water standards. Water is safe to drink for people, pets, and plants.
Important advisory for specific groups:
- Dialysis patients and centers: Special precautions are advised for dialysis patients and centers. Water must be properly treated to remove all chemical disinfectants, including chlorine and chloramine, before it is used in dialysis machines. However, the water remains safe for consumption by dialysis patients.
- Fish tanks and aquariums: The water will not be safe for use in fish tanks and aquariums during the conversion period due to the temporary change in disinfection treatment.
- Pool owners: Pool owners must maintain the same chlorine level in water treated with either free chlorine or chloramines to prevent algae and bacterial growth. Pool supply stores can provide pool owners with more information.
Purpose of the maintenance The water system typically uses chloramines, which contain chlorine and ammonia, for disinfection due to their long-term benefits. However, periodic maintenance, such as the Free Chlorine Rinse, removes ammonia from the treatment process and disinfects the water with only chlorine, which is more effective than chloramine at overall disinfection.
Water authorities nationwide conduct annual disinfectant changes ahead of warmer seasons to reset the system’s disinfection capabilities and free pipes of sediment buildup. Free Chlorine Rinse is a regular system maintenance practice recommended by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Flushing and water pressure During the Free Chlorine Rinse period from July 8 to Aug. 8, hydrants will be flushed to help maintain clear water for customers and to ensure the free chlorine reaches the entire water system. The process will be repeated when converting the water system back to chloramine. Flushing should significantly subside after the process is complete. When flushing hydrants, the water utility will divert water onto lawns and grassy areas to reuse while also mitigating the pressure to avoid damage.
Most customers will not see a drop in water pressure. If a change in pressure does occur, it is usually momentary. If low pressure persists longer than an hour, report it to the Customer Care team at customercare@georgetowntexas.gov.
For details on the planned Free Chlorine Rinse, see georgetowntexas.gov/water_maintenance.
For questions about this system maintenance, email Customer Care at customercare@georgetowntexas.gov.
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