Broken Arrow begins meetings to explain chloramines

Thursday evening, Broken Arrow will hold the first in a series of meetings to explain its decision to convert to a chloramines-based secondary disinfection system for the city's water supply.

The conversion is part of Broken Arrow's long-range water supply plan, adopted in 2006, which includes a new $65 million facility which utililizes cutting-edge technology in its filtration system.

The city will still use chlorine as its primary disinfectant, but like Tulsa and any number of communities around the country, it has decided that new EPA standards can best be met by a secondary disinfection system based on chloramines.

That chemical is created when a small amount of ammonia is injected into chlorinated water.

The city begins a series of meetings Thursday in each council ward to discuss the new water system and take questions.

Here's the schedule:

• March 28 (Ward 3) Cedar Ridge Christian Church, 4010 W. New Orleans St.
• April 11 (Ward 2) Liberty Church, 7777 S. Garnett Rd.
• April 18 (Ward 1) Heritage United Methodist Church, 5300 E. Kenosha St.
• April 25 (Ward 4) Indian Springs Baptist Church, 7815 S. Elm Pl.
• May 2 (At Large) Nienhuis Community Center, 3201 N. Ninth St.

Residents may call the City with questions at 918-893-6800, email watersupply@brokenarrowok.gov, or visit www.brokenarrowok.gov to learn more about chloramine and the City's water supply system.