AWWA DPOC56498

On May 6, 2002, Tampa Bay Water began the physical conversion of a regional water transmission system from free chlorine to chloramines as the final disinfectant residual. Although this date represents "throwing the switch", the conversion process actually began more than three years prior. A myriad of technical, political, and social issues were navigated in that three-year period, culminating in a successful, "non-event". The process of consensus building, educating the public, coordinating with consecutive systems and obtaining permits for this conversion is outlined in this paper. Efforts continue as ancillary treatment facilities are converting to chloramines and integrating into the regional system.