Customers who receive their water from the Florida Governmental Utility Authority (FGUA) may find their drinking water having a stronger taste of chlorine between March 9 and March 30, said Barbara Kerby, today. She is FGUA’s director of customer services.

She said FGUA will be temporarily changing the disinfection process for the Lehigh potable drinking water supply, a process that done each year.

Beginning on March 9, FGUA will disinfect the water with “free chlorine” rather than combined chlorine/ ammonia, which are chloramines. She said this conversion to free chlorine, which is a stronger disinfectant, allows the utility to perform a water distribution system purge as recommended by the Dept. of Environmental Protection for water utilities using chloramines as their primary disinfectant.

“We will start the process at 6 a.m. on March 9,” Kerby said.

She said this temporary change in disinfectant does not cause adverse health effects. However, during the period, customers may experience a slight increase in the taste and odor of chlorine.

She said she is also notifying local health care professions in the area because customers who are on dialysis and use a proportioning machine to prepare dialysate are advised to get in touch with their physicians to obtain the appropriate steps to accommodate the change in water disinfection.

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

Kerby said she would be glad to answer any questions from customers if they call 239-368-1615.