09/16/2026
Starting Wednesday, Sept. 9, the City of Goldsboro Water Treatment Plant will temporarily stop adding ammonia to its water treatment disinfection process, transitioning to chlorine-only disinfection for six weeks. They will resume adding ammonia to the water treatment process on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Our water treatment plant typically uses chloramine, a disinfectant formed by mixing chlorine and ammonia, to treat drinking water. Chloramine is more stable than chlorine, providing a longer-lasting disinfectant effect as water travels through pipes to customers.
To promote optimal disinfection throughout the water distribution system, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality recommends that public water systems using chloramine disinfection switch to chlorine-only disinfection for at least three consecutive weeks each year. This switch to chlorine-only disinfection can sometimes produce a temporary chlorine taste and odor.
The City of Goldsboro also conducts flushing of the water distribution system during this period as part of an annual unidirectional flushing program. System flushing will begin Wednesday, Sept. 9. This flushing may cause some temporary discoloration in the water. The water is safe. If you notice discoloration, you may need to run your tap for a short time to clear it up. As a precaution, customers may want to check to see if their water is discolored before doing laundry, especially with white clothes.
If you have any questions, please call 919-735-3329.