Chloramination FAQ
Chloraminated water is perfectly safe for drinking, bathing, cooking and other daily water uses. Answers to some of the most common questions we received about the process are below.
- Is this a new process?
- Will I notice any differences?
- Will chloramination affect routine household water uses?
- Will chloramination affect my pets?
- How will this affect business customers?
- Does this change affect both fresh water and salt water fish?
- Will the pH of the water be changed?
- What precautions should be taken?
- If only a small amount of water is added to the aquarium or pond to make up for evaporation, do chloramines still need to be removed?
- Can chloramines be removed by boiling water?
Q. Is this a new process?
No, the water supply in your area was previously treated via chloramination.
Q. Will I notice any differences?
For most customers, the only noticeable change will be an improvement in the taste and odour of our drinking water.
Q. Will chloramination affect routine household water uses?
No. Chloramination will not affect routine water uses such as food preparation, household laundering and dishwashing, watering plants, etc.
Q. Will chloramination affect any pets?
Chloramination is only harmful to fish and other aquatic or semi-aquatic life. All other pets will be unaffected by the change.
Business Customers
Q. How will this affect business customers?
Businesses and other establishments that use water for commercial laundering operations, laboratory procedures, seafood handling and other processes in which water characteristics must be controlled should get advice from equipment manufacturers or other suppliers regarding work changes that may be needed.
Q. Does this change affect both fresh water and salt water fish?
Yes.
Q. Will the pH of the water be changed?
No. The pH of the water will remain the same.
Q. What precautions should be taken?
Aquarium or pond owners, restaurants and commercial fish tank owners will need to change their current chlorine removal process to remove chloramines.
Chloramines should be removed from water that is used in fish tanks, ponds and aquariums. Households, tropical fish shops and other businesses that keep fish or other animals in tanks, aquariums or ponds are encouraged to contact knowledgeable suppliers or veterinarians.
Similarly, customers who use water for aquaculture (growing plants in a water tank or pond) are encouraged to get expert advice regarding chloramines. Also, restaurants and grocery stores with lobster tanks must take special precautions to treat the water.
Q. If only a small amount of water is added to the aquarium or pond to make up for evaporation, do chloramines still need to be removed?
This will depend on the amount of water added in relation to the size of the aquarium or pond, the time period in which it is added and the sensitivity of the animals being kept. An alternative is to monitor for total chlorine residual in the aquarium or pond while adding the chloraminated water.
Q. Can chloramines be removed by boiling water?
No. Boiling water is not an effective method of removing chloramines from water. The only practical methods for removing chloramines from water are using a water conditioner, which contains a dechloramination chemical, or by using granular activated carbon.