Residents who rely on public water systems (PWS) often wonder if their tap water is safe to drink. At Carroll Water Systems, we hear this question a lot from residents who want to have trust in the quality of their drinking water.
Usually, the concern isn’t for the same types of contaminants that are prevalent in well water, but rather for disinfectants that are used in a process by public water systems to remove contaminants. Inevitably, when people depend on public water supplies, one question often arises: “Is chloramine bad for you?”
Chloramine is a chemical compound made by mixing chlorine and ammonia. Since the 1930s, water utilities have used chloramine as a safe and effective disinfectant.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all drinking water suppliers using surface water to use disinfectants. This helps eliminate harmful organisms that can cause disease. Many public utilities add chloramine to kill bacteria and microorganisms in the treatment plant and the distribution system. The EPA states, “More than one in five Americans uses drinking water treated with chloramines.”
In short, chloramine is safe in drinking water. However, it’s important to note that levels of chloramine must be carefully controlled to ensure beneficial results without toxicity.
What Levels of Chloramine Are Safe in Drinking Water?
According to the CDC, “… chloramine levels up to 4 milligrams per liter (mg/L), or 4 parts per million (ppm), are considered safe in drinking water.” At these levels, harmful health effects are unlikely to occur.
Benefits of Chloramine
- Chloramine is less volatile than chlorine, so it won’t evaporate quickly. This means it can provide longer-lasting protection from bacteria as the water travels through the distribution system.
- Chloramine creates fewer disinfection by-products than chlorine, which can be carcinogenic.
Does Chloramine in Water Cause Any Negative Side Effects?
Even Though PWS use safe methods to sanitize water with chloramine, many residents will report nuisance side effects. These might include:
- A chlorine taste and smell in their water
- Skin rashes and breathing issues (depending on sensitivity)
When using water containing chloramine in excess of 4.0 mg/L (sometimes found in swimming pools) people may experience eye and nose irritation. Chloramine fumes can also worsen respiratory issues, lead to congestion, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and even asthma.
Chloramine changes the chemical properties of water which result in disinfection by-products. These can unfortunately corrode lead or copper pipes and rubber gaskets found in plumbing systems.
Steps should be taken to remove chloramine in water for side effects associated with toxicity for dialysis patients (for the treatment process). Additionally, you should remove chloramine when using water for aquariums (for fish, reptiles, and amphibians) and craft beer brewing.
Does Your Water Supply Contain Chloramine?
You can contact your public water supplier to find out if they treat your water with chloramine. All PWS utilities must produce an annual water quality report. All levels of contaminants and the methods used to treat them will be outlined in the report, including information on chloramine.
What Can I Do To Remove Chloramine From My Home Water?
While you may not be able to change the way water treatment plants disinfect their water, you can reduce chloramine levels at home. If you’re concerned about the safety of chloramine in your water, unpleasant taste, or pipe corrosion you can install a special filtration system.
Steps To Remove Chloramine
- Obtain the latest water quality report from your public water provider. This will show the levels of contaminants and chloramine in the water, which is most likely within EPA standards.
- Contact us at Carroll Water Systems. We are a trusted water treatment company with over 100 years of experience in the industry. When your water consultant arrives, you can share your concerns and the latest water report with them. Then, they will perform a free water quality test.
- Once we identify the contaminants in your water, we will recommend the best product to address the issues present.
There are a variety of water treatment systems on the market. However, the best option for chloramine removal would be a water refining system.
Upon installation, you will still enjoy the benefits of chloramine disinfection without unpleasant tastes or smells. Your home’s plumbing system will also be protected from corrosion.
Contact Our Water Quality Experts
At Carroll Water Systems, we offer the EcoWater Water Refining System® with chloramine reduction. This system will resolve hard water issues by removing excess calcium and magnesium from your water. It will also provide whole-home filtration that removes chlorine and chloramine taste and odor without compromising flow.
Carroll Water Systems is an exclusive authorized EcoWater dealer in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. If you’re concerned about the levels of chloramine in your drinking water, contact us today. You will receive a free water test with quick results that will help our professionals create the best treatment plan for your home.
