Beginning Monday, March 2nd, 2026, Pearland Water will be conducting a Free Chlorine Conversion in the City of Pearland’s water system as part of an annual system-wide maintenance process. This will involve temporarily changing disinfection methods away from treatment with chloramines to treatment with free chlorine, as recommended by the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The City will return to chloramine disinfection on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026.

This change will apply only to residents and businesses within the City who receive a Pearland Water utility bill.

During this temporary change in disinfection methods, Pearland residents can be assured that all water in the system will remain completely safe for consumption and regular usage. Additionally, all water within the system will continue to exceed all compliance requirements by the TCEQ and EPA. During the initial transition over to free chlorine, a small portion of residents may briefly notice slight changes in water taste/odor/color.

Any noticeable water quality changes associated with the initial conversion are typically short-lived, and once again pose no health risk to residents. Pearland Water will be strategically placing staff throughout the water distribution system in the City to increase hydrant flushing to help reduce and mitigate any aesthetic changes to the water.

Any residents and/or businesses within the City of Pearland who receive a Pearland Water utility bill and normally take special precautions to remove chloramines from tap water such as dialysis centers should confirm whether pretreatment adjustments are necessary according to the equipment manufacturer’s guidelines during the temporary switch from chloramines to free chlorine.

At the conclusion of the conversion period set to take place on March 31^st, 2026, Pearland Water will revert its disinfection process back to using chloramines once again.

Special Notice: Dialysis Machines and Exotic Aquariums

Users of kidney dialysis machines and owners of tropical fish aquariums will need to adjust their procedures accordingly.

Dialysis centers will keep treating water to eliminate all chemical disinfectants, including chlorine and chloramine, before it is used for dialysis. Home dialysis users should consult their machine manufacturers for guidance on properly treating water prior to use. 

Fish and reptile owners should continue using standard water treatments that remove both chlorine and chloramine.

A free chlorine conversion is an industry-standard water system maintenance practice recommended by both the EPA and TCEQ. This is when a water system which typically uses chloramine to disinfect the water is temporarily switched over to using only chlorine within the treatment process, thereby removing ammonia from the process which is a necessary chemical to form the chloramines used originally.

The primary benefit of a free chlorine conversion for the City will be increased long term water quality for the customers of Pearland Water. This conversion will also help remove biofilms within the distribution system and reduce nitrification, along with system-wide water quality improvements long term.

Pearland Water has not conducted this maintenance process for the past several years due to the City having to rely on the City of Houston’s water supply to meet the usage demands of Pearland residents. While dependent upon on outside water sources, the City of Pearland was not able to conduct this maintenance without the City of Houston’s participation. However, with Pearland Water’s Surface Water Treatment Plant now supplying Pearland residents, the City can meet the usage demands required for this maintenance without relying on City of Houston’s water sources.

Visit the TCEQ Website for additional information on free chlorine conversions.