Burkburnett officials say water quality is improving; staff to publish plain-language metrics

City staff told the Burkburnett Board of Commissioners that recent changes to nitrate and calcium treatment are producing measurable improvements and that officials will begin publishing easy-to-read testing updates for the public.

During the discussion, staff described the metrics they will track—turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS) and calcium concentrations—and said they are assembling a baseline from the months since new treatment began. A staff member said they expect usable trend graphs by the six- to eight-month mark and that one full year would better account for seasonal swings.

Officials cautioned that as hard-water minerals are reduced, older corroded fittings and valves can begin to leak. "If we are in fact doing it right, eventually that calcium will start binding away and you'll end up with little seeping, weeping leaks," a staff speaker said, noting that softened water can expose previously corroded plumbing. Staff said they will include that guidance in the public materials so residents know what to expect.

The board asked how the city will communicate improvements. A staff member volunteered to publish monthly or twice-monthly plain-language updates on the city website and Facebook page summarizing where test readings were and how they are trending. Commissioners also asked staff to avoid technical jargon and present the information in a simple, visual format for residents.

What’s next: staff will finalize a testing baseline from the existing samples, prepare short trend graphics for public distribution (target: six–12 months for clear trends) and return with a communications plan that shows the proposed frequency and channels for posting results.