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1. What is the current drinking water disinfection method?

The current method of disinfection used is chlorination.

2. What is chloramination?

Chloramination is the use of both ammonia and chlorine to disinfect water. Chloramines are safe in drinking water and serve as an effective method of disinfection. In the U.S., many water systems have used chloramination for several decades.

3. How will chloramination affect water customers?

For most customers, the only noticeable change will be that the chlorine smell and taste in our water will be less apparent.

4. What precautions should kidney dialysis patients take?

Both chlorine and chloramine must be removed from the water used in kidney dialysis machines. Medical centers that perform dialysis and dialysis centers are responsible for purifying water that enters the dialysis machines. Customers with home dialysis equipment should contact their physicians or dialysis centers regarding chloramination and how it will affect them. They should also check with the equipment manufacturer for information.

5. What precautions should fish owners take?

Chloramines should be removed from water that is used in fish tanks, ponds, and aquariums. Tropical fish shops and other businesses that keep fish or other animals in aquariums or ponds are encouraged to contact a pet supply company about how to remove chloramines before using drinking water in an aquarium.

Similarly, customers who use drinking water for aquaculture (growing plants in a water tank or pond) are encouraged to get expert advice regarding whether and how to neutralize or remove chloramines. Also, restaurants and grocery stores with lobster tanks must take special precautions to treat the water.

6. Will chloramination affect routine business water uses?

Businesses and other organizations in the City that use the City’s water for commercial laundering operations, textile dying, laboratory procedures and other processes in which water characteristics must be carefully controlled should get advice from equipment manufacturers or other suppliers regarding changes that may or may not be needed.

7. Will chloramination affect routine household water uses?

Chloramination will not affect routine water uses such as food preparation, household laundering and dishwashing, watering plants, etc.  Chloramines will not have any effect on any type of lawn and will usually be removed by the high chlorine demand in the soil.

8. Do home water softeners remove chloramines?

Most water softeners are not designed to remove chloramines.