The switch for some Pinellas County Utilities customers is a short-term maintenance program to combat bacteria and ensure high water quality.
By LORRI HELFAND
Published October 23, 2004
If you miss the taste and smell of chlorinated water, you may get a chance to recapture that flavor for a few weeks.
In 2002, Pinellas County Utilities began treating water with chloramine, but plans a short-term switch back to chlorine on Monday.
The conversion, which will continue through Nov. 19, affects customers of Pinellas County Utilities and residents of Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs and part of Oldsmar, which purchase water from the county.
County officials said switching to chlorine is chiefly a maintenance measure.
"Chlorine is a little stronger disinfectant. It's a management tool to make sure the water in the system is as clean as it can be," said Rich McLean, the county's assistant director for water programs.
The chlorinated water will remain safe to drink during the 31/2-week period, officials said, but some customers may notice a difference in taste or smell.
However, two groups need to take precautions. Kidney dialysis centers and owners of tropical fish need to treat the chlorinated water differently.
Environmental officials say brief conversions from chloramine to chlorine are common.
Chloramine is a combination of chlorine and ammonia, which contains nitrogen. Short-term switches to chlorine treatment are standard and help combat bacteria regrowth that sometimes occurs because of the nitrogen, Florida Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Mike Zavosky said.
But there are no indications of significant contamination in the county's water, McLean said.
Each month, the county tests about 200 water samples for coliform bacteria. No more than 5 percent of the samples should test positive for the bacteria, according to national standards for safe drinking water.
Bacteria levels remain well within the safe range and just 1.1 percent of September's samples tested positive, McLean said.
In 2003, climbing bacterial levels in North Pinellas spurred a short-term chlorine conversion.
The county switched to chloramine when its supplier, Tampa Bay Water, made a similar conversion.
The change was made because new federal standards required the reduction of suspected cancer-causing compounds such as trihalomethanes, a byproduct created when chlorine mixes with organic material in water. Chloramine produces lower concentrations of those byproducts.
But short-term conversions to chlorine are safe, according to Chris Owen, water quality assurance officer for Tampa Bay Water.
"The health effects information is based on long-term exposure. Periodic increases should not be a problem," Owen said.
For information, contact Pinellas County Utilities Customer Service at (727) 464-4000.
