Florida · small ground water systems

Florida chlorine residual requirements

Regulator: Florida DEP Drinking Water Program and approved county health departments · Reviewed September 28, 2026

Short answer

Florida requires every water supplier to disinfect continuously and to keep at least 0.2 mg/L free chlorine (or 0.6 mg/L combined chlorine) throughout the distribution system at all times. Systems serving fewer than 3,300 people take a grab sample at the point of longest residence time each day or at least two days a week, whichever is less, and file a monthly operation report within 10 days.

Minimum residual: 0.2 mg/L free or 0.6 mg/L combined, throughout distribution
How often: <3,300 people: daily or 2 days/week, whichever is less
Report: Form 62-555.900(3) monthly operation report within 10 days

Who has to chlorinate

All suppliers of water must provide continuous disinfection of the water they distribute. Fla. Admin. Code 62-555.320

Minimum residual

At least 0.2 mg/L free chlorine, or 0.6 mg/L combined chlorine, throughout the distribution system at all times. Fla. Admin. Code 62-555.350

Maximum

4.0 mg/L chlorine (as Cl2). Fla. Admin. Code 62-550.310

How often to test

Fewer than 3,300 people: at least one grab sample each day water is served, or at least two days a week, whichever is less, at a point reflecting maximum residence time. Fla. Admin. Code 62-555.350
3,300 or more people: daily, or at least five days a week, whichever is less. Fla. Admin. Code 62-555.350

Test kits and methods

Field residual measurements follow DEP's standard operating procedures (DEP-SOP-001/01). Fla. Admin. Code 62-555.350
Color comparators are allowed for free and total chlorine in drinking water, with accuracy verified every six months against standards. FDEP SOP FT 2000

Reporting

Monthly operation reports go to the DEP district office or approved county health department within 10 days after each month, on Form 62-555.900(3) for systems treating raw ground water or purchased water. Fla. Admin. Code 62-555.350
Transient non-community systems using only ground water and serving only businesses other than public food service establishments are exempt from the monthly report. Fla. Admin. Code 62-555.350

How long to keep records

Copies of monthly operation reports: at least 10 years. Fla. Admin. Code 62-555.350
Exempt transient systems keep at least three months of log data at all times. Fla. Admin. Code 62-555.350

Parks, campgrounds and seasonal systems

The same transient-system exemption also waives Florida's licensed-operator requirement for those systems. Fla. Admin. Code 62-555.350

Keeping the log in Florida

Florida's minimum applies at all times, everywhere in the distribution system, so the sampling point matters. Take the reading at the far end of the system, where water has sat longest, name that point the same way in every entry, and keep the log for the monthly report.

Print a dated month with the chlorine residual log sheet, or build a sheet for your whole round with the daily water system log sheet.

Other states

For federal rules and every state's program, see chlorine residual requirements.

Sources

Last reviewed September 28, 2026. Rules change and states add their own; confirm with your state drinking water program.