Miami-Dade schedules September chlorine conversion for drinking-water system
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department will temporarily change the disinfectant used in its drinking-water system from Sept. 21 through Oct. 4, 2026, switching from its usual combined chlorine treatment, chloramine, to free chlorine.
The planned change applies to the department’s drinking-water treatment plants serving Miami-Dade County, including Miami. It is part of the county’s annual, systemwide chlorine conversion, which Miami-Dade says is intended to cleanse the water-distribution system.
Customers may notice a temporary chlorine taste or odor during the approximately two-week conversion. Miami-Dade says that condition will not cause adverse health effects.
A temporary change in treatment
Free chlorine will replace the standard combined chlorine treatment only for the conversion period. The county says free chlorine is an effective method for cleansing water-distribution systems.
The Water and Sewer Department announced the upcoming conversion July 20. The published schedule runs from Sept. 21 through Oct. 4, and the announcement describes the effort as a planned annual operational process.
The notice is not a report of a contamination event. It also does not state that every customer will notice a difference in the taste or smell of their water. While some customers may experience those temporary changes, the county did not identify particular neighborhoods where they may be more pronounced.
What customers can expect
Miami-Dade’s announcement does not specify a customer action, eligibility requirement or separate service deadline associated with the conversion. The key dates for customers are the scheduled Sept. 21 start and Oct. 4 end of the temporary treatment change.
The county’s assessment concerns the expected effects of this planned conversion: a possible chlorine taste or odor and no expected adverse health effects from that temporary condition. The announcement does not provide individualized health guidance or describe a different treatment schedule for specific customers or neighborhoods.
An annual county practice
Miami-Dade says it has carried out its annual chlorine conversion for more than 30 years in partnership with the county and the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources is also identified in connection with the effort.
For residents served by the department’s drinking-water system, the conversion means a temporary switch in the disinfectant used by the utility rather than a permanent change to normal operations. Chloramine is the standard combined chlorine treatment; free chlorine will be used during the scheduled conversion before the utility returns to its regular treatment approach.
The information comes from Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department’s July 20 announcement. The department’s notice characterizes the conversion as a recurring system-cleaning measure and says customers who notice a chlorine taste or smell during the period should expect it to be temporary.
Sources
- WASD to briefly change water disinfection method, Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department