Greensboro closing one of its water treatment plants for infrastructure upgrades

Greensboro is shutting down the Townsend Water Treatment Plant on Wednesday for equipment upgrades.

The closing is due to much-needed electrical and mechanical improvements. The plant will be offline at times until the work is done.

Water Supply Division Manager Scott Jewell says the work will fix the aging infrastructure.

"This equipment needed to be replaced before it failed on us, and we would not be able to replace it, you know, fix it or repair it because of availability of parts because it's just outdated."

Jewell says residents may notice a slight tint to the water, but this will not pose any health risks.

"When we actually have to shut down one plant, the flows move a little bit differently in the distribution system, and so it can disturb those flows," he says.

Jewell says what individuals are seeing are minerals in the water, and that the redirection in movement is what causes the discoloration.

Residents can request the Water Resources staff to flush nearby lines to clear any tint. The upgrades are expected to be finished in mid-April.