Lake Tarpon: Temporary Change in Disinfection Process is Completed on 10/11/2026

TEMPORARY CHANGE IN DISINFECTION PROCESS Sunshine Water Services, in coordination with Pinellas County Utilities, will temporarily switch its disinfection system from chloramination (chlorine + ammonia) to chlorine only on Monday, September 21, 2026 and continue using this disinfection method until Saturday, October 10, 2026. At that time, the Utility will once again use ammonia in conjunction with chlorine. The Lake Tarpon water system uses chloramination (chlorine + ammonia) as a disinfection method that is consistent with the same disinfection method used by Pinellas County Utilities. This is because Pinellas County Utilities provides a backup water supply to Lake Tarpon in the event of an emergency condition or power failure at Lake Tarpon’s water supply well. By using the same disinfection process, the interconnection between the two systems can function automatically and thus avoid any interruption of service. Why is the disinfection process being changed? During the 19-day period identified above, Pinellas County Utilities will utilize free chlorine temporarily as part of their routine distribution system maintenance program. Because the Lake Tarpon water system is interconnected with Pinellas County Utilities’ water system as an emergency water supply source, Sunshine Water Services will adjust its disinfection process simultaneously. Why is chloramination used for disinfection at Lake Tarpon Village? While chloramination is an effective alternative to free chlorine in disinfecting drinking water, it substantially reduces the production of certain disinfection byproducts such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) that may otherwise form in the presence of free chlorine. Converting to free chlorine for about one month followed by flushing of the system will serve to remove the buildup of organic nitrogen compounds that may occur over time in the distribution system due to the use of ammonia in the normal disinfection process.