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Monochloramines

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1. What precautions must dialysis providers take?

Kidney dialysis patients can safely drink, cook and bathe in water disinfected with monochloramine. The digestive process neutralizes monochloramine before it enters the bloodstream. But, like chlorine, monochloramine must be removed from water to be used in kidney dialysis machines. The City of Liberty is working with representatives from Liberty Hospital, the Clay County Health Department and dialysis treatment centers to educate them about this change. If you are a dialysis patient or have questions, call your physician or the dialysis center nearest you.

2. Is monochloramine safe for my salt and freshwater fish?

Chlorine and monochloramine are both toxic to fish and aquatic life. Monochloramine is harmful to fish and amphibians when it enters the bloodstream from water that passes through their gills.

Therefore, like chlorine, monochloramine must be removed from water used for keeping live fish, amphibians and other aquatic animals. This includes Koi, fish, lobster, shrimp, frogs, turtles, snails, clams and live coral. To protect fish and amphibians, use treatment products to remove monochloramine from tap water. These products are readily available at most pet supply stores and aquarium dealers. Leaving water to sit for several days is not an effective method for removing monochloramine.

3. Do I need to change the way I treat my swimming pool water?

No additional treatment should be necessary. However, you might find that there is a slight increase in chlorine demand. That means that you may have to add a little more chlorine than usual to get to the level you typically maintain in the pool after you top it off with tap water.

4. What is drinking water disinfection?

Disinfection inactivates disease-causing organisms in water. Disinfection uses either a chemical or physical process that kills microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Chemical disinfectants include chlorine, monochloramine and ozone. Ultraviolet light disinfection is a physical process. There are 2 types of disinfection: primary disinfection and secondary disinfection.

5. What is primary disinfection and secondary disinfection?

Primary disinfection first inactivates or kills microorganisms. Secondary disinfection maintains a disinfectant level in the pipelines to kill any organisms that may recover from primary treatment or be introduced into the distribution system through water main breaks, leaks or backflow.

6. Why is disinfection important?

Disinfection of drinking water is vital to protect public health from waterborne diseases. The practice of disinfecting drinking water has made many once-common diseases, like typhoid and cholera, a thing of the past in the United States, Canada and other developed countries. In fact, control of infectious diseases by disinfecting drinking water is considered one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th Century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

7. Will chloramine irritate my skin or lungs while swimming in a pool?

Improper pool maintenance can lead to the formation of trichloramine, a chemical related to monochloramine that has been linked to breathing problems. Trichloramine forms in swimming pools when ammonia from sweat and urine reacts with chlorine.

Inadequate chlorine addition or improper pH levels can contribute to trichloramine formation. Maintaining a pH level of 7.2 to 7.8 in pools is necessary to control trichloramine.

8. Why are disinfection byproducts a public health concern?

Some disinfection byproducts are regulated by the EPA because they pose a potential health risk if consumed at certain levels over many years. New rules reduce disinfection byproduct exposure and related potential health risks. Specifically, the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule has more stringent standards and monitoring requirements for two groups of disinfection byproducts, which are suspected carcinogens: trihalomethanes (TTHM) and haloacetic acids (HAA5).

9. Will my home filtration system be affected?

You may find that you have to replace filters (particularly activated charcoal filters) more often than before, though the difference should be negligible. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s recommendations. Check with the manufacturer if you are interested in finding out if your granular activated filter removes chlorine and monochloramine.

10. Are plants affected by water treated with monochloramine?

No, plants, vegetables, fruit and nut trees are not affected by monochloramine-treated water.

11. Does drinking water treated with monochloramine have increased lead levels?

While monochloramine is not more corrosive toward metals than chlorine, it does change the chemistry of drinking water. In certain cases this may cause lead from pipes or home plumbing to dissolve into the water. However, with water quality testing and monitoring, a utility can evaluate and optimize its corrosion control treatment to reduce the possibility of this occurring.

12. What is monochloramine?

What is monochloramine?
Monochloramine is a chemical compound of chlorine and ammonia commonly used as a diluted solution to disinfect drinking water before it is delivered to homes. Monochloramine is formed using low chemical concentrations in a controlled environment. Monochloramine (NH2Cl) should not be confused with dichloramines (NHCl2) or trichloramines (NCl3), two chemically distinct and separate compounds.

13. How common is monochloramine used to treat drinking water in the U.S.?

Monochloramine has been safely and successfully used by water utilities for more than 90 years. More than 1 in 5 Americans uses drinking water treated with monochloramine. Boston, Dallas, Houston, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Miami, Denver, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and many other cities are all successfully using monochloramine to treat drinking water.

In our region, nearly all of the major water systems use monochloramine including Kansas City, Missouri, Independence, Platte County (Parkville), Saint Joseph and Harrisonville in Missouri as well as WaterOne of Johnson County, the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Olathe and Lawrence in Kansas.

14. Is monochloramine safe?

EPA states that research and experience to-date indicates monochloramine is safe and beneficial at levels typically used to treat drinking water. In fact, the World Health Organization and the EPA consider monochloramine a safe, effective treatment method of reducing the potential health risk from regulated disinfection byproducts. The EPA evaluated monochloramine safety and set the standard for monochloramine use at a level where no human health effects are expected to occur.

15. Can I drink and cook with monochloramine-treated water?

Yes, monochloramine-treated water will meet or surpass all local, state and federal guidelines for drinking water quality. You can safely drink the water, cook with it and bathe in it. However, like chlorine, monochloramine-treated water must be conditioned or filtered before using it for fish and other aquatic life, and dialysis centers must also take special precautions.

16. Is it safe to wash an open wound with monochloramine-treated water?

Yes, when cleaning an open would, virtually no water can enter the bloodstream.

17. I’ve heard that some people have experienced rashes or breathing problems. Is monochloramine to blame?

In recent years, a small percentage of consumers have expressed concern over health symptoms they believe are connected to monochloramine. Among the reported symptoms are respiratory problems, skin irritation and digestive problems. While the actual causes of the reported symptoms are undetermined, it is possible that some individuals may be sensitive to monochloramine, just as some individuals are sensitive to chlorine. Additionally, if water containing monochloramine exceeds regulatory limits due to improper operation, irritation to the eyes, nose and stomach can occur. The City of Liberty will use accurate and reliable equipment to ensure monochloramine in our system meets all regulatory standards. If you experience symptoms you believe are connected to monochloramine, please immediately contact your physician, the Clay County Public Health Department and the City of Liberty.

18. Can monochloraminated water interact with my medications?

There are no known interactions between monochloramine-treated water and any kind of medication. People on medication should not experience any reactions caused by drinking monochloramine-treated water. If you have a specific concern, please contact your physician.

19. My new home has a pool. Do I have treat the swimming pool water in a special manner?

No additional treatment is necessary. However, you might find that there is a slight increase in chlorine demand. That means that you may have to add a little more chlorine than usual to get to the level you typically maintain in the pool after you top it off with tap water.

20. Are home filtration systems affected by water treated with monochloramine?

You may find that you have to replace filters (particularly activated charcoal filters) more often than before, though the difference should be negligible. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s recommendations. Check with the manufacturer if you are interested in finding out if your granular activated filter removes chlorine and monochloramine.

21. Why can’t I let my tap water sit a few days to remove monochloramine?

Letting tap water sit works with chlorine. Monochloramine lasts longer than chlorine and will not dissipate from tap water like chlorine. You must use drops, tablets or granular activated carbon filters that are specifically designed to remove monochloramine.

22. Is monochloramine-treated water safe for my dog, cat, ferret, monkey, parrot, parakeet, or other pets?

Yes, the water is safe for pets.

23. If I water the lawn, will the runoff harm the environment?

If you use tap water to water your lawn, the small amount of monochloramine in the water will be neutralized by the soil. Lawn watering is not expected to have an adverse effect on plants or nearby aquatic life.