Ive seen many posts about peoples thoughts on chloramines on several forums and noticed many misconceptions on why its used or what it is. I do have alot of experience with it but i am curious of other peoples thoughts!
I guess this was less interesting than i thought it would be lol.
So to humor my self. Chloramines are just a clhorine molecule covered in amonia molecules. Most people think its to aide chlorine in dysinfection. Some think its a corosion inhibitor.
The only purpose the amonia is added for is prevention of THMs. Thms(trihalomethanes) are a carcinogen (cancer causing) and are formed when free chlorine and natural organics are mixed together. Our tap water is full of natural organics, and alone are safe. Once chlorine is added however the thm is formed. Amonia when added to water encases the free chlorine molecule and basically shields it from the natural organics. Hence our use of chloramines. However, chloramines allow for a much higher growth rate in biofilms in water mains. To clear the systems water plants will do a free chlorine burn for a month twice a year. Most people notice the increased chlorine odor and taste and assume that they have added more chlorine to the drinking water. However the truth is they simply turned the amonia pumps off and alowed the chlorine to be free.
Maybe this weite up will atleast shine some light on the water you use every day for your self. (Side note our local plants use ro and uv Sterilization processes. Ive ran a tank on this for years. Only problem was added silicates for corosion prevention made for some ugly algae....ro for me now)
Water systems have trouble with free chlorine residual disinfectant levels in the far reaches and limits of the distribution system so chloramination was developed. Chloramines last longer in the distribution system but they are not as powerful as free chlorine thus the biological growth and need to periodically shock the pipes, much like you do a swimming pool.
Chloramines really are not a big deal to remove as some will tell you. Any good single 1 micron or smaller extruded carbon block is more than sufficient provided you use an equal micron rated or smaller sediment filter to protect the carbons billions of tiny microscopic pores where the chlorine is adsorbed. Carbon does not remove the ammonia portion but it does break the bond with chlorine so the RO and DI can remove the ammonia. So called catalytic or chloramine carbons or dual carbons are not necessary. A good high rejection rate RO membrane and properly packed full size 20 oz DI are much more important.
Ascorbic acid, vitaman C and sodium thiosulfate remove the chlorine portion of chloramines but they do not remove the ammonia which is more toxic than the chlorine.
If you have a normal aquarium with nitrification - the containing NH4 (ammonia ion) is no problem. NH4 is not toxic - However NH3 (ammonia gas) is toxic and at a pH around 8 - NH3 is only around 5 - 6 % of total NH4/NH3 content (25 degree C). You need a very high concentration of chloramines in order to get toxic NH3 levels from chloramine at normal pH and temperature. By the way Ascorbic acid and vitamin C is the same compound.
Yes it is the same, we use it for chlorine removal when flushing water mains. You are preaching to the choir, I have been a certified water operator for over 40 years.
