Press Release: Annual Water System Maintenance Program to Begin

Release to News Media, May 5, 2026

Annual Water System Maintenance Program to Begin in Clearwater

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Pinellas County Utilities and the city of Clearwater will temporarily modify their water treatment process during two scheduled maintenance periods in 2026.

The utility will switch from chloramine to chlorine disinfection from May 20 through June 8, and again from Sept. 23 through Oct. 12. The temporary change is part of a routine maintenance program to help maintain the integrity of the water distribution system.

The program affects customers served by Pinellas County Utilities, as well as residents in Clearwater, Pinellas Park and Safety Harbor.
The change is designed to maintain water quality and reduce the potential for future system issues. During this time, customers may notice a slight difference in the taste or odor of their water. However, the water will continue to meet all federal and state drinking water standards.

Kidney dialysis patients are not expected to be impacted but should contact their dialysis care providers for specific guidance regarding chlorine treatment. Fish owners with systems that already remove chloramines should not be affected but are encouraged to consult local pet suppliers with any questions.

The largest water suppliers in the area, including Clearwater, Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Hillsborough County, use chloramine as the primary disinfectant to ensure safe drinking water. Systems that use this form of disinfection routinely perform temporary conversions to free chlorine as part of system maintenance to support consistent disinfection and minimize taste and odor concerns, particularly during warmer months.

For more information, visit the city’s chloramines webpage or call Clearwater Public Utilities at (727) 562-4960.

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