Water Maintenance

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Chloramines have been used safely in the United States and Canada for many years. For most normal uses of potable water, water treated with chloramines is the same as water treated with chlorine. There are two groups of people, however, who should to take special care with water treated with chlorine: kidney dialysis patients and fish owners. Chlorine must be removed from the water used in the kidney dialysis process and from water that is used in fish tanks and ponds.

The 2024 Water Maintenance Program

Each year, Pinellas County Utilities and the city of Clearwater temporarily modify their water treatment process during two segments of water maintenance. The 2024 segments will occur May 20 to June 8, 2024, and also Sept. 23 to Oct. 12, 2024.

This short-term change from chloramines to chlorine disinfection is a routine maintenance measure designed to maintain system integrity. Those impacted include Pinellas County Utilities customers as well as city of Clearwater customers. 

Your water is safe to drink and meets all federal and state drinking water standards.

Why are you changing how you treat our drinking water?

Chloramines are commonly used for drinking water disinfection. As part of a program to assure water pipes stay clean, twice a year disinfection switches to chlorine for city of Clearwater customers. This is a common water treatment practice for water systems that normally use chloramine throughout the year.

What are drinking water disinfectants?

Chlorine and chloramines are common disinfectants used to remove microbial contaminants, such as bacteria and viruses. Disinfection occurs during the drinking water treatment process. 

These simple steps may minimize chlorine odor or taste.

  • Run the tap for a few minutes before using.
  • Fill a pitcher of water and let it sit for several hours to allow any residual chlorine to dissipate.
  • Consider installing a carbon filter on faucets, or replace existing filters with new ones. 

Info for kidney dialysis patients

Kidney dialysis patients can safely drink, cook, and bathe in water treated with chloramines. However, chloramines must be removed from the water used in kidney dialysis machines. Dialysis systems will require some modifications to remove the chloramines. Check with your physician to be certain the necessary changes are made.

All medical facilities that perform kidney dialysis have been notified of this change to chloraminated water treatment. According to the federal regulations about end-stage renal disease, these facilities are responsible for purifying the water that enters the dialysis machines.

Info for owners of fish and aquatic life

Chloramines are toxic to saltwater and freshwater fish, reptiles, turtles, and amphibians, and it must be removed from any water to be used for fish tanks or ponds. Chloramines in water do not evaporate as readily as chlorine. Therefore, specific steps must be taken for their removal.

Chloramines can be removed from the water by using a water conditioner specifically designed to remove chloramines or by using a granular activated carbon filter. Your pet products supplier should be able to provide guidance on these products.

Ammonia can be toxic to fish. Biological filters, natural zeolites, and pH control methods are effective in reducing the toxic effects of excess ammonia that may be present in aquarium water due to the chemical removal of chloramines.

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