Many municipal water supplies have switched from chlorine to an alternative method of disinfection to reduce the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs). Chloramine, or chloramination, is a treatment method employed by public water systems, more than one in five Americans uses drinking water treated with chloramines. Chloramines do pose a risk for hemodialysis patients and fish. Nitrosamines can be generated as byproducts from use of chloramines. They are strongly suspected of being human carcinogens.
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Monochloramine
Dichloramine
Nitrogen Trichloride
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NH2Cl
NHCl2
NCl3
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MRDL* = 4.0 mg/L or ppm (measured as Cl2)
MRDLG** = 4.0 mg/L or ppm (measured as Cl2)
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Sources of Contaminant
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Municipal Treatment
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Potential Health Effects
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Can cause hemolytic anemia when present in dialysis process water
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Treatment Methods
Point-of-Entry (POE)
Point-of-Use (POU)
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Activated Carbon
Catalytic Activated Carbon
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*Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) - The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
**Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) - The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.)
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Click here to open WQA's Technical Fact Sheet on Chloramine.
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