How to remove chloramine from water? Easiest ways
Contents
Overview
Water is the basic need of life. Without water, we can’t imagine a single day of our life. Many water utilities add chloramine to tap water to kill germs and keep it safe as it travels through the pipes.
Chloramine at regulated levels is safe for most household uses. Some people still want to remove it, for taste, for an aquarium, or for home dialysis equipment.
Chloramination is the process of adding chloramine to drinking water to disinfect it and kill germs. Chloramination is sometimes used as an alternative to chlorination. Chloramines are a group of chemical compounds that contain chlorine and ammonia. The particular type of chloramine used in drinking water disinfection is called monochloramine.
Monochloramine is mixed into water in levels that kill germs but are still safe to drink. Monochloramine, often called simply chloramine, is the chemical compound with the formula NH₂Cl. We use water containing chloramine for many purposes, such as:
- Drinking
- Cooking
- Bathing
- Other household uses
Is chloramine safe to use?
According to the CDC, drinking water with chloramine levels up to 4 mg/L (4 ppm) is considered safe. These low levels kill harmful germs and are unlikely to make people sick.
Monochloramine is a different chemical from dichloramine and trichloramine. Those compounds form in and around indoor swimming pools and can cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation. They can cause bloodshot eyes. These chemicals are not usually linked to drinking water.
Difference between chlorine and chloramines
The difference is that chlorine forms more disinfection byproducts, including trihalomethanes (THM) and haloacetic acids (HAA). Chloramine forms much lower amounts of THMs and HAAs, but it can form other byproducts such as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).
Chlorine also escapes if water sits out for a few days. Chloramine does not, so letting water stand will not remove it.
Why do we use chloramine in the water?
Chloramine lasts longer than chlorine. It is a stable compound that does not break down or lose strength quickly.
Although it is a weaker disinfectant than chlorine, it keeps working much longer. Even homes at the far end of a water main get water that is still disinfected.
Why should we remove chloramine from water?
For most healthy people, there is no medical need to remove chloramine from regulated tap water. Some people are more sensitive to chemicals than others, so talk to a healthcare provider if you are concerned.
There are a few situations where removal matters.
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Skin and eye irritation
Some people notice dry skin or irritated eyes after bathing or swimming. In pools, the main irritants are dichloramine and trichloramine, which can contribute to red eyes, or bloodshot eyes, and itchy skin.
These compounds can also bother the nose and sinuses, especially in enclosed spaces. If you have ongoing symptoms, see a clinician to check for other causes such as allergies or eczema.
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Taste and odor
Chloramine has less of a chemical taste than chlorine, but some people still notice a chemical or metallic taste and smell. Taste and odor are among the most common household water complaints.
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Dialysis
Dialysis uses large amounts of water that comes into contact with blood. Dialysis centers must remove all chlorine and chloramine first. If you use home dialysis, follow your machine's instructions or contact the manufacturer.
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Toxic to fish and aquatic pets
Fish, turtles, and frogs absorb water directly into their bloodstream, and even low levels of chloramine can make them sick. Pet stores sell water conditioners that neutralize it.
How to remove chloramine from water?
There are several ways to reduce chloramine at home. Check that any filter you buy is certified for chloramine reduction, not just chlorine.
1. Catalytic carbon filter
Catalytic carbon filtration is one of the most effective ways to reduce chloramine. Catalytic carbon is activated carbon that has gone through extra treatment to speed up the chemical reaction that breaks chloramine down.
Chloramine's stability, the quality that makes it such a good disinfectant, also makes it hard to remove. Ordinary activated carbon, the standard choice for chlorine, needs a much longer contact time to remove chloramine.
The reaction with carbon releases small amounts of ammonia and chloride. Chloride at these levels is harmless; it is the same ion found in table salt.
2. Granular activated carbon filter
Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters are made from materials such as coconut shells, coal, and wood. Heat activates the carbon and greatly increases its surface area.
GAC is very good at trapping tastes, odors, and many organic chemicals. It can reduce chloramine, but only with slow flow and long contact time, so look for a product certified for chloramine.
3. Polyphosphate filter
Polyphosphate filters coat minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium to help prevent scale. They do not remove chloramine, so pair them with a carbon filter if chloramine is your concern.
4. Reverse osmosis
The reverse osmosis membrane alone does not remove chloramine. However, reverse osmosis systems include carbon pre-filters, and those filters are what reduce chloramine.
Reverse osmosis pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane that rejects many contaminants, such as arsenic and salts. The rejected water (brine) goes down the drain, and the filtered water (permeate) is stored in a tank until you use it.
5. Brita filter
Brita filters and other pitcher filters use activated carbon. They are built mainly to reduce chlorine taste and odor, and chloramine needs a longer contact time with carbon. Check the product's certification before relying on it for chloramine.
6. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Vitamin C neutralizes chloramine quickly. Aquarium dechlorinators and some shower filters use it, and many foods and drinks such as tea, coffee, and orange juice neutralize chloramine in the same way.
Boiling water can also help to remove chloramine from water
Boiling removes chloramine only slowly and is not a practical method. It takes a long boil, which wastes energy and raises the risk of burns.
Boiling is not needed for health reasons when your water meets drinking water standards. A filter certified for chloramine is a better choice.
HP Thoughts: Since we are on the topic of water, is coco water good for pregnant women or not? We answer this question via our post: Coconut Water During Pregnancy.
Conclusion
Chloramine is a disinfectant that protects tap water from germs that cause illnesses such as typhoid. At regulated levels it is safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing for most people.
You may want to remove it for taste, for fish, or for home dialysis. A catalytic carbon filter certified for chloramine is the most reliable option, and vitamin C works well for small amounts of water.
