The Tampa Water Department is temporarily using a different water disinfection process, which will continue until July 3.
The switch began on June 12 and is part of the city’s routine maintenance to preserve drinking water quality, according to a city news release.
Customers may experience a change in their drinking water’s smell, color, and taste during this time, the release says.
The department is temporarily using chlorine instead of chloramine — which is a mix of ammonia and chlorine— to disinfect its drinking water.
This is a routine and temporary adjustment to help prevent bacteria from developing in water mains and service lines, according to the city.
Customers who are sensitive to chlorine can take several steps to minimize the effects of the change, the release says.
Those options include:
- Running the tap for a few minutes before using the water
- Filling a pitcher of water and letting it sit for several hours to allow any residual chlorine to evaporate
- Considering the installation of a carbon filter on kitchen/bathroom faucets or shower heads or replacing existing filters with new ones
This routine change was delayed due to seasonal drought conditions. The Hillsborough River Reservoir is now back to normal levels thanks to recent rains.
For more information, contact the City of Tampa Utilities Department at 813-274-8811, or visit Tampa.gov/ChlorineDisinfection.
Published June 14, 2023
