The City of Pembroke Pines will be performing its annual chlorination preventive maintenance procedure to clean our Water Distribution System. The procedure runs for three weeks from March 28, 2022 through April18, 2022. During this period, the City’s Drinking Water Distribution System will continue to meet ALL Federal and State water quality standards. Some residents may notice a slight chlorine taste and/or chlorine odor in the water. Residents on kidney dialysis or those who have other medical conditions should contact their health care providers for more information about increased chlorine levels in their drinking water during this time frame. Fish owners should also take necessary precautions during this procedure. Additionally, you may see water running from fire hydrants in your neighborhood. This is a part of the normal maintenance process.If you have questions, please call the Utilities Customer Service Department at 954-518-9000 or visit www.ppines.com for information and updates. We thank you for your patience and cooperation during this maintenance activity. Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding chlorination of water distribution systems for maintenance purposes:
What is Free Chlorination?
Free chlorination is a temporary process that distributes free chlorine in place of combined chlorine (chloramines) throughout the water distribution system as part of the distribution system maintenance. Free chlorination is a common practice used by water producers to maintain water mains that normally use chloramines for disinfection. It is typically performed over a two to three week time period as needed.
What are Chloramines?
Chloramines are bacteria killing compounds that form when chlorine and ammonia react in water. Chloramines are used to purify drinking water, and are known to be more stable than chlorine.
Will I notice a change in my Water?
Some people may notice a change in the taste, odor and color of water during this time but adverse health effects are not expected. If you are especially sensitive to the taste or odor of chlorine, keep an open container of drinking water in your refrigerator for a few hours to allow the chlorine to dissipate. Some aquatic and marine animal species are sensitive to free chlorine. Persons maintaining aquariums are encourage to contact their pet supply stores regarding dechlorinating of the water. Any questions regarding kidney dialysis should be directed to the customer’s doctor or dialysis specialist.
Fire hydrant is flowing on my street, is this part of the process?
Flushing of fire hydrants is a routine part of the free chlorination process. This will occur in various parts of the City in order to distribute free chlorinated water into all parts of the water distribution system. As a result, increased flushing may be observed during this time during the day and also in the evening.
Why does it take three full weeks?
The City has an extensive water distribution network and it takes that much time to completely distribute the free chlorine and treat all sections of our water mains during the maintenance activity.
Will Residents Be Notified When the Process is Complete?
The timeframe, March 28 until April 18, 2022 will be effectively managed. If the process will go longer for any reason, updates will be posted on the City’s website at www.ppines.com.
How long has U.S. drinking water been chlorinated?
Chlorine has helped provide safe drinking water in the United States for more than 100 years.
How common is chlorine disinfection of drinking water?
Chlorine is by far the most commonly used drinking water disinfectant in all regions of the world. Today, about 98 percent of U.S. water treatment systems use some type of chlorine disinfection process to help provide safe drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires treated tap water to contain a detectable level of chlorine to protect against germs as it flows from the treatment plant to consumers’ taps.
Is chlorine in drinking water safe?
The small amount of chlorine added to disinfect drinking water in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations is safe for consumption. According to EPA, allowable chlorine levels in drinking water (up to 4 parts per million) pose “no known or expected health risk.
Is this the first time the City of Pembroke Pines has used free chlorination?
No. The City uses this maintenance procedure as needed, typically annually.
Do other Cities perform free chlorination?
Yes. This is a common industry practice. There are many utilities throughout the country that use chloramines as a distribution system disinfectant which convert to free chlorine on a periodic basis to maintain their distribution networks.
Does free chlorination change or affect water quality?
No, the drinking water still meets all State and Federal water quality standards.
What can I do to improve the water taste/smell?
We suggest storing water in an open pitcher and placing it in your refrigerator. The chlorine will naturally dissipate from the water, and will become less noticeable.
Why are you doing this during this time of the year?
As part of our commitment to provide safe and reliable water, our staff monitors the distribution system to determine when the system needs to be maintained. When this determination is made, the appropriate notifications are made and the maintenance process is initiated.
What are the methods for removing chlorine/chloramines before adding to fish aquariums?
Just as with chlorine, chloramines can harm all saltwater and freshwater fish, reptiles, shellfish, and amphibians that live in water. Commercial establishments and hobbyists involved in fish rearing need to take precautions. There are two methods that can be used to remove or neutralize chloramines before adding water to a fish tank, pond, or aquarium: (1) Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtration system specifically designed to remove chloramines, or (2) conditioner or additive that contains a de-chlorinating chemical for both ammonia and chlorine. These products are available at local pet and aquarium supply stores. The residential and commercial fish owners are advised to verify which method is best for them with their pet store or aquatic/aquarium retailer.