Water will be safe to drink during duration of initiative
From April 22 through May 6, the Sarasota County Public Utilities staff will modify its drinking — potable — water disinfection process as part of routine maintenance, the department has announced.
“The water will remain safe to drink,” a news release emphasizes.
“This process has many benefits, including improving the overall quality of the drinking water by removing any sediments and other materials that may accumulate in pipes and decreasing potential for corrosion in pipes,” the release explains. “The last time Sarasota County performed this process was in April 2023,” it adds.
“During this [upcoming] period, the water will be disinfected with free chlorine rather than chlorine combined with ammonia (chloramines). This routine process, known as a free chlorine conversion, helps maintain water quality in distribution systems, as recommended by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection,” the release points out.
Other participating utilities in this free chlorine conversion are Charlotte County Utilities, DeSoto County Utilities, Englewood Water District and City of North Port Utilities, the release notes.
What customers should know
The Sarasota County Public Utilities staff has provided the following information in an effort to reassure customers that they do not need to have concerns about the process. Still, the release indicates the need for certain steps to be taken by residents who are on dialysis and by those who have aquariums, along with laundry precautions:
- “Water will remain safe to drink throughout the process. Boiling water is not necessary.
- “Customers may notice a temporary change in the taste and smell of the water.
- “Discolored water may stain laundry. Homeowners should flush any cloudy or discolored water that may enter the plumbing by running a faucet for several minutes or until the water runs clear.”
Moreover, the release points out, “Kidney dialysis patients who use a proportioning machine to prepare dialysate at home should contact their physicians or equipment suppliers for proper filtering adjustments.”
Further, it says, “Aquarium owners should monitor the chlorine levels and take necessary precautions recommended by a professional aquarist to ensure proper pretreatment of the water before adding or changing the water in the tank to avoid any problems associated with chlorine.”
The release adds, “Local utilities will flush the water distribution system to help the free chlorine circulate efficiently.”
“For more information about the water-free chlorine conversion,” the release says, visit scgov.net.