If your water smells or tastes a little like chlorine, don’t be alarmed because it’s still safe to drink.

To maintain high water quality, the City of Margate Water Treatment Plant will change its treatment process temporarily to increase the level of free chlorine disinfection from Tuesday, August 2, through Monday, August 22, 2022. This proactive measure prevents bacterial growth in the water mains and keeps the water safe for potable uses.

Chlorine is a highly efficient disinfectant added to kill disease-causing pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoans that commonly grow in supply reservoirs, on the walls of water mains, and in storage tanks.

The maintenance program, which is a normal procedure for water systems, is supported by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and will include daily testing to monitor water quality and measure the effectiveness of the program.

After this process is completed, the Department will return to its standard disinfection procedure using chloramines.

During this period, customers may experience a slight increase in the taste and odor of chlorine in the water, but these temporary conditions should not cause adverse health effects.

Customers on dialysis who use a proportioning machine to prepare dialysate are advised to contact their physician to obtain the appropriate steps to accommodate the change in water disinfection.

Customers who have allergies or skin conditions are advised to consult with their physicians to ascertain any appropriate precautions they should observe during this period with respect to drinking or bathing in the water.

Customers who have fish tanks or aquatic species are advised to contact a professional aquarist to avoid any problems associated with chlorine.

Fire hydrant flushing activities during the event may cause cloudy, discolored water; however, this condition will be temporary and will clear within a few hours.