— MIAMI-DADE PLANNED TREATMENT UPDATE
Why Miami-Dade tap water may smell more like chlorine from September 28 to October 11
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department has scheduled its annual chlorine conversion for September 28 through October 11, 2026. Customers may notice a temporary chlorine taste or smell while the utility changes its disinfection method.
- Miami-Dade WASD will temporarily use free chlorine instead of its usual combined chlorine, also called chloramine.
- The utility describes this as planned annual distribution-system maintenance—not a boil-water notice or a contamination finding.
- Some customers may notice a stronger chlorine taste or odor, cloudy water or brief periods of lower pressure.
- The notice applies to Miami-Dade WASD customers. It should not be assumed to cover every independently operated utility in Miami-Dade County.
What is Miami-Dade changing?
Miami-Dade WASD says it will temporarily change the disinfectant used at its water-treatment plants from combined chlorine, commonly called chloramine, to free chlorine. The department says it has coordinated this annual conversion with the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County and the County’s Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources for more than 30 years.
The announced schedule begins September 28 and continues through October 11, 2026.
The County did not announce contamination or instruct customers to boil their water. A separate boil-water notice, main break or pressure-loss notice would require its own instructions.
Who is affected?
The announcement is for customers served by the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department. Miami-Dade County also contains municipal and independent water systems, so a Miami-Dade mailing address alone does not prove that this schedule applies.
Check the provider printed on the water bill. If it does not say Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, confirm the treatment schedule with that utility.
What might customers notice?
Miami-Dade WASD says some customers may notice a chlorine taste or smell during the two-week period. Utility crews may also flush water lines throughout the system. That work can cause short periods of lower-than-normal pressure or cloudy water.
If the water looks cloudy, the County recommends running the tap for three to five minutes until it clears. Persistent discoloration, particles, strong odor or pressure loss should be reported to the utility rather than assumed to be part of routine maintenance.
Does a stronger chlorine smell mean the water is unsafe?
Not by itself. Taste and odor cannot establish whether tap water is safe or unsafe. In this case, the utility says the temporary condition is expected during its planned disinfection change and does not cause adverse health effects.
Residents should still check for any separate public notice covering their address. An unexpected condition outside the announced period or one limited to a single fixture may have a different cause.
Who should take special precautions?
Miami-Dade WASD advises dialysis patients to contact their doctor. Owners of tropical fish and managers of restaurants or stores with fish-holding tanks should seek guidance from an aquarium-maintenance professional because disinfectants require appropriate removal before water is used in those systems.
What should residents do?
- Confirm the water provider. Use the name shown on the water bill.
- Expect possible taste or odor changes. These may occur between September 28 and October 11.
- Run cloudy water briefly. Miami-Dade recommends three to five minutes, or until it clears.
- Follow special-use precautions. Dialysis patients and aquarium owners should consult the appropriate medical or aquarium professional.
- Check for separate notices. A boil-water notice or major pressure event requires address-specific instructions.
How can customers contact Miami-Dade WASD?
For water-quality questions, customers north of Southwest Eighth Street can call the department’s laboratory at 786-552-4738. Customers south of Southwest Eighth Street can call 786-552-4181.
The bottom line
Miami-Dade WASD customers may notice more chlorine taste or odor during the scheduled September 28–October 11 conversion. The announcement describes routine maintenance, not confirmed contamination. Confirm the provider on the bill, follow the special precautions when applicable and check current utility notices if conditions are severe or unexpected.
— CONFIRM YOUR WATER PROVIDER
Miami-Dade has more than one water system.
Start with the utility printed on your bill before relying on a treatment notice or annual water-quality report.
Read the verified Miami-Dade WASD water report →
Check current Miami-Dade County water alerts →
Published September 22, 2026 · No corrections posted.
This page will be updated if Miami-Dade WASD changes the schedule or publishes materially different instructions.
Sources
- Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department: annual chlorine conversion notice
- Florida Politics: Miami-Dade chlorine-conversion report
Sources reviewed September 22, 2026. Utility schedules can change; verify current Miami-Dade WASD instructions before acting.