Chloramines are a group of chemical compounds that contain chlorine and ammonia. It is sometimes used as an alternative to chlorination. Chlorine use became more and more common in the following decades, and by 1995 about 64% of all community water systems in the United States used chlorine to disinfect their water.Ĭhloramination is the process of adding chloramine to drinking water to disinfect it and kill germs. Is chlorine treatment new?Ĭhlorine was first used in the United States as a major disinfectant in 1908 in Jersey City, New Jersey. Water providers may temporarily switch from chloramine to chlorine disinfection to help remove this slime layer. Water system pipes develop a layer of biofilm (slime) that makes killing germs more difficult. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows drinking water treatment plants to use chloramine and chlorine to disinfect drinking water. Why is my water provider temporarily switching from chloramine to chlorine disinfection? The small amount of chlorine added to water will not affect other pets (such as mammals and birds) and can be used regularly for watering and bathing animals. Ask your local pet store about methods of removing disinfectants from water for these pets. Chlorine can be removed from water by letting it sit out for a few days or by buying a product at your local pet store that removes the chlorine. Don’t keep these animals in water that contains these disinfectants. Unlike humans and other household pets, these types of animals absorb water directly into the blood stream. Will chlorine affect my pets?Ĭhlorine and chloramine are toxic to fish, other aquatic animals, reptiles, and amphibians. Taste and smell problems may arise depending upon the water quality and amount of chlorine in the water. Some people like the taste and smell of chlorinated water, and others do not. Will chlorine affect my water’s taste or smell?Ĭhlorinated water can taste and smell different than untreated water. At this level, harmful health effects are unlikely to occur. ![]() What are safe levels of chlorine in drinking water?Ĭhlorine levels up to 4 milligrams per liter (mg/L or 4 parts per million (ppm)) are considered safe in drinking water external icon. Home dialysis users should consult the machine manufacturer for instructions on how to properly treat their water before use. Dialysis centers must treat the water to remove all chemical disinfectants, including chlorine and chloramine, before the water can be used for dialysis. Does chlorine affect patients during dialysis?ĭuring dialysis, large amounts of water are used to clean waste products out of a patient’s blood. Individuals who have health concerns should seek medical advice from their healthcare provider before contacting their local health department external icon. Some people are more sensitive than others to chemicals and changes in their environment. Your water company monitors water quality regularly to provide you with safe drinking water. Are there any health issues associated with chlorine? Using or drinking water with small amounts of chlorine does not cause harmful health effects and provides protection against waterborne disease outbreaks. Different processes can be used to achieve safe levels of chlorine in drinking water. Some water systems that use water from a groundwater source (like community wells) do not have to add a disinfectant at all.Ĭhlorination is the process of adding chlorine to drinking water to kill parasites, bacteria, and viruses. Less commonly, utilities use other disinfectants, such as chlorine dioxide. Some communities switch back and forth between chlorine and chloramines at different times of the year or for other operational reasons. Most communities use either chlorine or chloramines. You can find out whether there is a disinfectant in your water, what kind of disinfectant is used, and how well your utility has followed the rules about disinfection by obtaining a copy of your utility’s consumer confidence report. Chlorine and chloramine are the major disinfectants used in public water systems. ![]() To prevent contamination with germs, water companies add a disinfectant-usually either chlorine or chloramine-that kills disease-causing germs such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, and norovirus. Germs can also contaminate water as it travels through miles of piping to get to a community. Water comes from a variety of sources, such as lakes and wells, which can be contaminated with germs that may make people sick.
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