By Justin Knoesel, COO, Countryside Water · Updated October 2026 · Data: City of Clearwater 2025 Water Quality Report, Pinellas County Utilities 2025 Water Quality Report
What Causes the Chlorine Smell in Clearwater Tap Water
Clearwater tap water smells like chlorine because the city disinfects it with chloramine, a mix of chlorine and ammonia, at all three of its treatment plants. The smell gets stronger twice a year, when the City of Clearwater and Pinellas County Utilities switch temporarily to straight chlorine. The water is safe to drink.
Key takeaways:
- Chloramine is in Clearwater’s water every day. The city’s 2025 report shows chlorine residual samples from 0.6 to 4.9 ppm, under a 4.0 ppm annual-average limit.
- The smell spikes during the twice-yearly chlorine switch. In 2026, it ran in late May through early June and again from late September into mid-October.
- The smell is a sign the water is disinfected, not a sign of contamination.
- A whole-home catalytic carbon filter removes the smell and taste at every tap after the water has already been disinfected by the city.
What are the top 3 reasons Clearwater tap water smells like chlorine?
The three main reasons are: the city disinfects with chloramine every day, Clearwater and Pinellas County Utilities switch to straight chlorine for about three weeks twice a year, and disinfectant levels vary depending on where your home sits in the water system. All three are normal parts of treating municipal water.
1. Clearwater disinfects its water with chloramine year-round
Every gallon leaving Clearwater’s three treatment plants is disinfected with monochloramine, made by combining chlorine and ammonia. Chloramine lasts longer in pipes than chlorine alone, which keeps water safe across miles of mains. Many people can still smell and taste it, especially in a glass of cold water or a hot shower.
According to the City of Clearwater 2025 Water Quality Report, all three city plants use it: RO Plant 1, RO Plant 2 and Water Plant 3. About 40% of Clearwater’s water is bought from Pinellas County Utilities, which also uses chloramine.
For a detailed breakdown of how the two disinfectants differ, read our guide to chlorine vs. chloramine in Pinellas County water.
2. The city switches to straight chlorine twice a year
Twice a year, Pinellas County Utilities and the City of Clearwater temporarily replace chloramine with free chlorine for about three weeks. This routine maintenance keeps water pipes clean and reduces bacteria in the system. Free chlorine has a sharper, pool-like smell, so most residents notice the change right away.
The Pinellas County Water System Maintenance Program says the switch helps control bacteria in systems that normally use chloramine and replaces some of the pipe flushing that would otherwise use millions of gallons of water. The county lists Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Belleair and Pinellas Park as part of the program.
| 2026 chlorine switch | Pinellas County dates | Typical length |
| Spring | May 18 – June 6, 2026 | About 3 weeks |
| Fall | September 21 – October 10, 2026 | About 3 weeks |
Sources: Pinellas County Water System Maintenance Program and the City of Clearwater Water Maintenance page. The city’s May 2026 press release listed slightly later dates (May 20 – June 8 and September 23 – October 12), so check current city notices for the exact days.
Both the city and the county say the water still meets every federal and state drinking water standard during the switch, and boiling is not necessary.
3. Disinfectant levels vary across the water system
Chlorine levels aren’t identical at every tap. Homes closer to a treatment plant or booster station usually receive water with more disinfectant, while homes farther out receive less. Clearwater’s own 2025 samples ranged from 0.6 to 4.9 ppm, which is why neighbors can notice different amounts of smell.
Pinellas County Utilities also adjusts the chloramine level at its water booster stations before water reaches homes and businesses, according to its 2025 Water Quality Report. The table below shows what each utility reported for 2025:
| Disinfectant measure (2025) | City of Clearwater | Pinellas County Utilities | Limit |
| Disinfectant used | Monochloramine | Chloramine | — |
| Highest running annual average | 3.18 ppm | 3.8 ppm | 4.0 ppm |
| Range of individual samples | 0.6 – 4.9 ppm | 0.30 – 5.30 ppm | — |
Individual samples can exceed 4.0 ppm because the limit applies to the running annual average, not single samples. Both utilities reported no violations.
Is Clearwater tap water safe to drink if it smells like chlorine?
Yes. The City of Clearwater reports that its water met all state and federal drinking water standards in 2025. A chlorine smell means the disinfectant is doing its job of protecting water as it travels through the pipes. Safety and taste are separate issues, and filtering for taste is a personal choice.
If your water smells different from chlorine, the cause is likely something else:
| What you smell | Likely cause | What to do |
| Bleach or swimming pool | Chloramine or the twice-yearly chlorine switch | Normal; filter for taste if you prefer |
| Rotten eggs | Hydrogen sulfide, often in well water or a water heater | Read what causes stinky tap water |
| Musty or earthy | Organic compounds in the water or drain | Have the water tested |
| Metallic | Pipes or plumbing fixtures | Have the water tested, especially in older homes |
Why does the chlorine smell come and go?
The smell is strongest during the twice-yearly switch to free chlorine, which runs for about three weeks in late spring and early fall. It’s also more noticeable in hot showers, where heat releases the disinfectant into the air, and in water that has just left a treatment plant or booster station.
If you noticed a stronger smell in late September and early October 2026, that matches the fall maintenance period. Once the system switches back to chloramine, the smell usually returns to its normal background level.
How do I get rid of the chlorine smell in my Clearwater tap water?
For a quick fix, fill a pitcher and refrigerate it, or run the tap for a few minutes. For a permanent fix, install a filter. A whole-home catalytic carbon filter removes chloramine at every faucet and shower, while an under-sink or reverse osmosis system treats drinking water at one tap.
The City of Clearwater suggests running the tap for a few minutes, letting a pitcher sit for several hours, or using a carbon filter. Standard carbon handles free chlorine well. Chloramine is more stable and is best removed by catalytic carbon, a carbon made more reactive for this purpose.
| Option | Removes chlorine smell | Removes chloramine | Where it works | Upkeep |
| Letting water sit in a pitcher | Partly, over hours | Very slowly | One pitcher | None |
| Pitcher or faucet filter | Yes | Limited | Drinking water only | Frequent cartridge changes |
| Under-sink reverse osmosis | Yes | Yes | One kitchen faucet | Filters every 6–12 months; membrane about every 3 years |
| Whole-home catalytic carbon filter | Yes | Yes | Every tap, shower, and appliance | Carbon media change every 2–3 years |
A whole-home filter is the only option that also treats shower and bath water, where many people notice the smell most.
How does whole-home water filtration keep water clean without the chlorine?
A whole-home filter is installed on your main water line, after the city has already disinfected the water and delivered it to your property. Carbon removes the leftover chloramine that protected the water in the city’s pipes, so every tap gets water without the smell or taste. Water inside a home is used quickly, so this is standard practice.
The disinfectant’s job is to keep water safe during its trip through miles of city mains. Once water reaches your home, it’s used within hours. If your home sits empty for weeks, for example over the summer, run each tap for a few minutes before use.
What is the process for installing a whole-home filter in Clearwater?
A typical installation follows five steps: test the water, confirm your utility and disinfectant, size the system to your household, install it on the main line, and schedule media changes. Most installations are done in a few hours and need no electricity to run.
- Test the water. A technician measures total chlorine, hardness, pH, iron, and total dissolved solids at your tap.
- Confirm your utility. Clearwater, Safety Harbor, and Pinellas County Utilities all use chloramine, but your bill tells you which utility serves you.
- Size the system. The filter is matched to your household’s water use, so water pressure isn’t affected.
- Install on the main line. The filter goes where water enters the house, usually in the garage or near the water heater.
- Schedule maintenance. Carbon media is replaced every 2–3 years, depending on water use and disinfectant levels.
If your water is also hard, pair the filter with a softener. Carbon removes chloramine but lets calcium and magnesium pass through. See how hard Pinellas County’s tap water is and our water softeners page.
Learn more about systems and installation on our whole-home filtration page or the Clearwater water treatment page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Clearwater use chlorine or chloramine?
Clearwater uses monochloramine, a combination of chlorine and ammonia, at all three of its treatment plants. Twice a year, the city and Pinellas County Utilities temporarily switch to free chlorine for about three weeks as routine pipe maintenance, then return to chloramine.
When does Clearwater switch to chlorine?
In 2026, Pinellas County scheduled the switch for May 18 – June 6 and September 21 – October 10. The City of Clearwater’s press release listed May 20 – June 8 and September 23 – October 12. Check City of Clearwater notices for upcoming dates, since the schedule can change.
Is chloramine safe for kidney dialysis patients?
Chloramine is safe to drink, cook, and bathe with, but it must be removed from water used in dialysis machines. The City of Clearwater says dialysis facilities have been notified. Home dialysis patients should check with their physician or dialysis provider about water treatment.
Is chloramine safe for my fish and aquarium?
No. Chloramine is toxic to fish, reptiles, turtles and amphibians, so it must be removed from water used in aquariums and ponds. The City of Clearwater recommends a water conditioner made to remove chloramine or a granular activated carbon filter, and advice from a pet supplier.
Will a water softener remove the chlorine smell?
No. A water softener removes hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium, not chlorine or chloramine. To remove the smell and taste, use a catalytic carbon filter. Many Clearwater homes use both a softener and a whole-home filter.
Tired of the pool smell? Countryside Water has helped Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Largo, and St. Pete homeowners get better-tasting water since 1979. Call (727) 797-4744 or book a free in-home water test.
