About Chloramine Pennsylvania American Water to Transition to Chloramines in Cumberland and York CountiesAs Pennsylvania American Water proceeds with plans to improve its disinfection process, we want to keep you informed about the proposed switch from chlorine to chloramines. This change in treatment process will enable us to meet future drinking water standards and to reduce the taste and odor of chlorine in your water. For decades, cities in Pennsylvania and across the United States have relied on chloramines to effectively treat their water. Most important, we will continue to provide you with high-quality water that meets or surpasses all regulatory standards for drinking, cooking, bathing and all of the typical uses for water.
For additional facts about the planned switch to chloramine disinfection for Pennsylvania American Water customers in York and Cumberland counties, please view our informational sheet about our planned transition to chloramines in Cumberland and York Counties, including:
- Why is Pennsylvania American Water changing its disinfection process?
- What is chloramination?
- Does chloramination have a proven track record as a safe and effective disinfectant?
- How will my drinking water be affected by the switch?
- When will the new disinfection process be implemented?
- Are there any special precautions for specific types of water use?
Resources and Answers to Commonly Asked QuestionsBe sure to get the facts about chloramines from trusted, credible sources, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PA Department of Environmental Protection Agency and the PA Department of Health. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission website also has a great deal of helpful information related to chloramines in drinking water. Below are links to these credible sites along with links to their answers for commonly asked questions and answers about chloramines: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency For information on chloramine basics, disinfection and disinfection byproducts, chloramine health information and other resources, view the EPA's Chloramines Q and A's. Below is what you'll find: Basic information about chloramines and drinking water disinfection - What are chloramines?
- How long has monochloramine been used as a drinking water disinfectant? How is monochloramine typically used? How many people/water utilities use monochloramine?
- Why is drinking water disinfected? What is the difference between primary and secondary disinfection? How is monochloramine used in a treatment plant?
- What disinfectants are available for drinking water?
- How effective is monochloramine vs. chlorine as a primary disinfectant?
- How effective is monochloramine vs. chlorine as a secondary disinfectant?
Water systems, disinfection byproducts, and the use of monochloramine - Why are disinfection byproducts a public health concern?
- How does EPA regulate disinfection byproducts (DBPs)?
- How do the kinds and concentrations of disinfection byproducts formed by monochloramine compare to those formed by chlorine?
- Why are water utilities switching to monochloramine?
- Other than chlorine and monochloramine, what options could water utilities consider to control the levels of disinfection byproducts?
- Does EPA require water utilities to use monochloramine? Who approves the decision for a water utility to use monochloramine?
- What assistance does EPA provide to water utilities that are considering a switch from chlorine to monochloramine?
Chloramines-related research - How did EPA evaluate the safety of monochloramine for use as a drinking water disinfectant?
- Why does EPA believe that sufficient research has been conducted to approve the use of monochloramine as a drinking water disinfectant?
- Why does EPA believe monochloramine is safe and appropriate to use?
- What does EPA see as the advantages of using monochloramine?
- What does EPA see as the disadvantages of using monochloramine?
- What is EPA’s current focus regarding chloramines research? What other ongoing research is EPA aware of?
Common health questions related to monochloramine - Is it safe to drink and cook with chloraminated water?)
- Can I shower in or use a humidifier with chloraminated water?
- Can chloraminated or chlorinated water be used for dialysis or in an aquarium?
- Does monochloramine cause cancer?
- Does monochloramine cause skin problems?
- Do chloramines cause breathing problems?
- Does monochloramine cause digestive problems?
- Does monochloramine change water chemistry? Does monochloramine use contibute to the release of lead or other contaminants into drinking water?
- Can my doctor tell if my health problems are caused by monochloramine or any other disinfectant in drinking water?
- How can I remove monochloramine from my drinking water?
Resources More information about health effects and drinking water disinfection from EPA is available in the following locations: - EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Web site.
IRIS includes updated information up to 2005 for the oral and carcinogenicity assessments for chloramine (assessment found under heading monochloramine). - Drinking Water Health Criteria Document for Chloramines, (155pp, 2M)
Health and Ecological Criteria Division, Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water, EPA, 1994. [Note: This document is currently being revised] - Stage 1 Rule page has further information on exposure and occurrence and summarizes of health information used to set the current chloramine standard.
- Stage 2 Rule Web site has further information on disinfection practices and explains risk-risk tradeoffs associated with disinfection byproducts and pathogen control.
To reach EPA for more information: PA Department of Environmental Protection For information on chloramine basics, the advantages and disadvantages of chloramines, the use of chloramines in Pennsylvania, lead, chloramine health information and other resources. San Francisco Public Utilities Commission The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission provides a great deal of helpful information related to chloramines. Below are links to resources and answers to commonly asked questions. - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
A number of questions have been posed to the SFPUC and the California Department of Health Services in regard to the conversion from chlorine to chloramine for distribution system disinfection as listed below by topic area. Click on the attachment below to view the following topics: - Feature Chloramine Items
- Other
- Fact Sheet
PA Department of Health For information on chloramine basics, chloramine health information and the PADOH position on chloramines. For the PA Department of Health's answers to the following questions, click here. - What is Chloramine?
- Why disinfect drinking water?
- Is there historical precedent for the use of chloramine as a drinking water disinfectant?
- Is the use of chloramine as a drinking water disinfectant regulated to protect public health?
- Will my health be harmed from drinking water disinfected with chloramine?
- How can I be assured that proper equipment and proper procedures will be used by water facilities to produce safe drinking water?
- What is the position of the Department of Health (DOH) on the use of chloramine in drinking water?
NSF/ANSI STANDARD Drinking Water Treatment Units National Sanitation Foundation’s (NSF) website where NSF provides information on in-home filters that remove chloramine and chlorine. For more information If you have additional questions about our planned transition to chloramination, please contact our customer service center at 1-800-565-7292.
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