DELRAY BEACH, FL — The change is short-term, but Delray Beach tap water may taste and smell different from July 5 through July 25.
The city's Utilities Department will temporarily switch its water treatment process from chloramines to free chlorine during that window as part of routine distribution system maintenance, according to the city. Crews will also flush fire hydrants across Delray Beach during the same period.
Free chlorine maintenance is scheduled to begin Sunday, July 5, 2026, and continue through Saturday, July 25, 2026.
The city describes the process as a standard practice performed roughly every six months to clear biofilms from the inside of water distribution pipes. Water treatment operators use a liquid sodium hypochlorite solution to add chlorine to the drinking water, according to the city.
Free chlorine is a stronger disinfectant than chloramines, and the city says some residents may notice a change in the taste or smell of tap water during the maintenance period. Delray Beach says the drinking water will continue to meet all state and federal water quality standards during that time.
Residents especially sensitive to the taste or smell of chlorine can keep an open container of drinking water in the refrigerator for a few hours to allow chlorine to dissipate, according to the city.
The city is asking a few specific groups to seek professional guidance before using tap water: residents who use a home dialysis machine, aquarium fish owners, and stores or restaurants that keep fish or shellfish holding tanks. Chlorine and chloramines can be harmful to fish, reptiles, shellfish, and amphibians, and both must be removed from tap water before it is used in home dialysis machines, the city said.
The city says commercial and residential fish owners can remove chlorine and chloramines using granular activated carbon filtration systems designed for chloramine removal or dechlorinating conditioners available at pet and aquarium supply stores. Delray Beach recommends fish owners confirm the best method with a pet store or aquarium retailer.
Residents may also see fire hydrants running during the three-week window. Hydrant flushing is a routine part of the free chlorination process and occurs in predetermined areas throughout the city, according to the utility.
For questions, the city directs residents to call the Utilities Department Customer Service team at (561) 243-7312, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Roadway work, drainage improvements, utility upgrades, and public infrastructure projects affect daily life across Delray Beach. Boca Post reports on the Delray Beach government decisions behind those investments.
