What the Experts Say About Chloramine

Dr. Jeffrey Griffiths, Associate Professor of Public Health, Medicine, Nutrition and Engineering
Tufts University School of Medicine
“The reports of adverse health effects of chloramine are both anecdotal, and at times biologically implausible.

“There continues to be confusion amongst some individuals as to the effects of monochloramine versus more complex chloramines, such as di-chloramine and tri-chloramine and other chemical species. However, no creditable evidence that chloramine (monochloramine), as used as a water disinfectant at recommended concentrations, has surfaced. Investigations by the Centers for Disease Control have not yielded any evidence of such adverse effects. In addition, no peer-reviewed papers or journal articles have been published in the scientific literature that would support the thesis that drinking water disinfection with chloramine has adverse health effects for humans.”

Mark Hartle, Chief
Aquatic Resources Section, Division of Environmental Services
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
“Both free chlorine and chloramines are quite toxic to aquatic life. Consequently, both compounds are used effectively as disinfectants. Chlorine is toxic to many aquatic organisms at concentrations less than 1 part per million, and we find that slightly higher chloramine concentrations are necessary to produce the same level of toxicity.”

Read Chief Hartle's letter

Jeff Hines, President and CEO
York Water Company
”The York Water Company has been using chloramines since 1942. I have been with the company for 20 years and have never received any complaints related to chloramine. In fact, the only calls we get are from people who actually say the water tastes good, because they can't smell the chlorine."

Bernard Brunwasser, Water Commissioner
City of Philadelphia Water Department
"Philadelphia made the switch from chlorine to chloramie over 30 years ago, because it is less corrosive, less odorous and more persistent through the 3,000 miles of Philadelphia's underground piping network and the plumbing of our customers' homes, thus protecting the water all the way to the tap."

Read Commissioner Brunwasser's letter