Starting Saturday, July 12, at 7 a.m., the City of Victoria will begin conducting a “chlorine burn” (treating water solely with chlorine rather than chloramines).
This is an elevated form of chlorine treatment that takes place once per year and helps to maintain water quality. This year, the switch was scheduled to take place starting Aug. 1, but the City has been approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to start the “chlorine burn” earlier than normal due to the need to increase chlorine in the water system. (The City received this approval late Friday afternoon, shortly after the City’s 3 p.m. press conference.)
Dialysis patients may need to change their pretreatment schemes for their dialysis machines. Anyone conditioning water for fish or aquariums may need to change their pretreatment processes as well.
This increased level of chlorine does not pose any health risks; however, residents should continue to follow health guidelines while the boil-water advisory is in effect, including boiling water prior to consumption.
The City is working with the Victoria Office of Emergency Management to notify hospitals and dialysis centers, as well as pet stores.
Stay connected
The City will host another press conference at 3 p.m. July 12 to provide an update on the City’s efforts to bring the water system back into compliance and rescind the boil-water notice. The press conference will be hosted live on the City’s Facebook page at “City of Victoria, Texas – Government” and on TV channels 15 and 115 and online at www.victoriatx.gov/tv15.
To sign up for the City’s Alert Center, visit www.victoriatx.gov/alertcenter. If you are unable to edit your contact information on the signup page, click “Create Account” and proceed to the next page to enter additional contact methods.
City of Victoria utility customers will receive Alert Center updates automatically at the information associated with your City of Victoria utility account.
For assistance, contact Communications & Public Affairs at communications@victoriatx.gov.