The Town of Hillsborough will use chlorine instead of a combination of chlorine and ammonia to disinfect public drinking water for a month, beginning March 1. This annual disinfection is required by the state.

In addition, town employees will release water from fire hydrants in the town’s water system and perform basic maintenance on them. The flushing of water mains helps ensure chlorine flows through the entire system.

Flushing will start in the central part of town and then move north and south simultaneously. It is expected to be completed by mid-April. The estimated amount of water flushed is 6 million gallons. Flushing is an allowable discharge into the town’s stormwater system. The flow is controlled to reduce velocity. View the town’s brief video on hydrant flushing.

Several utilities in the region also conduct the required disinfection at this time of year. This includes Hillsborough’s interconnected neighboring utilities, Orange Water and Sewer Authority and the City of Durham.

More Information

See the About Water page on the town’s website for more information about our drinking water source, water treatment, system maintenance and more.

Customers can call the Water Treatment Plant at 919-732-3621 with any questions on the use of chlorine and the characteristics of the town’s water.

Hillsborough residents who notice they have a clogged stormwater pipe under their driveway or an issue with stormwater in drainage ditches in town rights of way may submit a work order with the Public Works Division online or by calling 919-296-9600.