From Ground to Glass: How We Make Our Own Disinfectant
Did you know Moapa Valley Water District generates its own sodium hypochlorite disinfectant right here at our own local water production facilities?
Our groundwater begins its journey in pristine condition, requiring very little treatment. Because of this exceptional water quality, only a small amount of chlorine is needed to meet federal and state drinking water regulations—less than 0.71 parts per million. And because the water remains so clean throughout our system, those chlorine levels are largely maintained without the need for rechlorination.
Our on-site generation units are self-contained and a surprisingly simple concept. First we create a brine solution by adding salt to water. That brine then goes through an electrolysis process, producing a sodium hypochlorite solution similar to household bleach. The solution can be safely stored on site and precisely injected into the water supply as needed.
This process gives the District a more economical and reliable source of disinfectant while reducing our dependence on outside suppliers.
The value of that reliability became especially clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Production and supply-chain issues made chlorine products difficult to obtain, leaving some water utilities scrambling to find supplies—and paying premium prices. Moapa Valley Water District never was in that position. As long as we had salt on hand, we could make our own sodium hypochlorite.
It’s another example of how the District uses smart technology and local resources to provide safe, reliable drinking water for our community—today and for the future.