Chlorite

Chlorite Contamination in Drinking Water Around Tampa Bay, Florida

Chlorite is a disinfection byproduct that can form when chlorine dioxide is used to disinfect drinking water. It is most commonly found in surface water supplies that are treated with chlorine dioxide as a pre-oxidant or disinfectant.

Presence of Chlorite in Tampa Bay Area Drinking Water

Chlorite has been detected at low levels in some drinking water systems around Tampa Bay that use chlorine dioxide in their treatment processes. The cities and counties where chlorite has been found include:

Hillsborough County

Apollo Beach
Brandon
Carrollwood
Cheval
Citrus Park
Dover
FishHawk
Gibsonton
Lake Magdalene
Lutz
Mango
Riverview
Ruskin
Seffner
Sun City Center
Sydney
Tampa
Temple Terrace
Thonotosassa
Town 'n' Country
Valrico
Wimauma

Pinellas County

Belleair
Clearwater
Dunedin
Gulfport
Indian Rocks Beach
Indian Shores
Kenneth City
Largo
Madeira Beach
Oldsmar
Palm Harbor
Pinellas Park
Redington Beach
Redington Shores
Safety Harbor
Seminole
South Pasadena
St. Petersburg
Tarpon Springs
Treasure Island

Pasco County

Bayonet Point
Beacon Square
Dade City
Elfers
Holiday
Hudson
Hudson Beach
Land O' Lakes
Lacoochee
Moon Lake
New Port Richey
New Port Richey East
Odessa
Port Richey
San Antonio
Shady Hills
St. Leo
Trinity
Wesley Chapel
Zephyrhills

Polk County

Auburndale
Bartow
Davenport
Dundee
Eagle Lake
Fort Meade
Frostproof
Haines City
Highland City
Hillcrest Heights
Lake Alfred
Lake Hamilton
Lake Wales
Lakeland
Lakeland Highlands
Mulberry
Polk City
Winter Haven

Is Chlorite a Health Concern?

The EPA has set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 1 parts per million (ppm) for chlorite in drinking water. This limit was established to protect public health from potential harmful effects of chlorite exposure.

Chlorite levels detected in the Tampa Bay region have been well below the EPA standard. However, there is still some concern about the long-term health impacts of chronic low-level chlorite exposure.

Some studies have linked chlorite consumption to adverse effects such as anemia, neurological impacts, and developmental delays in children. The EPA is currently reviewing the health risks of chlorite with the aim of potentially revising the drinking water standard to be more protective of public health.

For vulnerable populations like young children, infants, and pregnant women, it is recommended to be especially cautious and consider installing a certified home water treatment system to reduce chlorite levels.

Water Treatment Options for Chlorite Removal

If you get your water from a municipal supply in the Tampa Bay area that uses chlorine dioxide, here are some effective options for removing chlorite at the point-of-use:

AquaLux Water Softener

AquaLux water softeners use a cation exchange process to remove hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium from water. While primarily designed to prevent scale buildup and improve soap performance, water softeners can also effectively reduce chlorite levels. They exchange harmless sodium ions for contaminant ions like chlorite that are then flushed away.

AquaCarbonGuard Catalytic Carbon Filter

AquaCarbonGuard filters utilize a high-performance catalytic carbon media to actively reduce chlorite and other contaminants through an oxidation-reduction reaction. They provide thorough contaminant reduction and long filter life.

AquaBlue Whole House Filter

AquaBlue systems use a multi-stage filtration process with sediment pre-filtration and granular activated carbon to remove chlorite along with other contaminants. They protect all water outlets in your home.

AquaGuard UV Disinfection

AquaGuard UV systems inactivate disease-causing pathogens with powerful ultraviolet light. While not specifically designed for chlorite removal, the UV disinfection process can help degrade chlorite into harmless byproducts.

Retention Tank + Chlorine Injection

A retention tank and chlorine injection system uses free chlorine to oxidize chlorite into non-toxic chloride. The treated water is held in a retention tank to allow time for the reaction before being distributed. This method provides reliable chlorite reduction.

HydroClear Ozone Generator

HydroClear ozone generators produce ozone which is a highly reactive oxidant. Ozone effectively oxidizes chlorite and also helps control bacteria growth in the water system.

AquaRevive Reverse Osmosis System

AquaRevive reverse osmosis systems use a semi-permeable membrane to filter out contaminants like chlorite. RO systems produce high quality drinking water for cooking and drinking uses.

HydroTech Pro Commercial Systems

For businesses, restaurants, schools, etc., HydroTech Pro commercial systems offer chlorite removal at higher flow rates. Options include sediment filters, activated carbon filters, and ozone injection.

WellFusion Well Water Treatment

WellFusion systems combine multiple treatment processes like ozone, UV, and filtration to address chlorite and other contaminants commonly found in private well water.

Treating water at the point of entry into your home is the most effective way to reduce exposure to chlorite and other drinking water contaminants. Contact a local Tampa water treatment professional to test your water and recommend the right filtration system for your needs.