Hi everyone! If you’re anything like me, you love a clean, fresh glass of water straight from the tap. But have you ever stopped to think about what’s actually in your water, and more importantly, how it’s kept safe for us to drink? Today, I want to talk about something you might have heard in the news or seen a warning label about: chloramine.
When we talk about chloramine gas, we’re discussing a toxic substance that can form when common household cleaning products are accidentally mixed. This is a serious safety hazard, but it’s not what your water utility adds to your supply. What is added to our water is a related, but different, compound called chloramine (without the “gas” part), which is a mix of chlorine and ammonia.
Water treatment plants use chloramine as a disinfectant. It’s incredibly effective at killing harmful bacteria and pathogens as water travels through miles of pipes to get to our homes. Its biggest advantage over traditional chlorine is that it lasts longer and doesn’t produce as many of those unpleasant disinfection byproducts, like trihalomethanes (THMs), which have their own health concerns. So, in its liquid form, used correctly in our water supply, chloramine is a public health hero.
How harmful is chloramine gas?
This is where we need to be very careful and distinguish between the controlled use in water and the accidental creation of a gas.
The chloramine in our drinking water is considered safe for consumption by health authorities at the low levels used for treatment. For most people, it causes no issues. However, some people with particularly sensitive skin or respiratory conditions, like asthma, might notice slight irritations during showering.
The real danger is chloramine gas. This toxic gas is created when a product containing chlorine bleach (like many toilet or mould cleaners) is mixed with a product containing ammonia (like some glass or window cleaners). Please, never, ever mix these chemicals!
Source: Sciencenotes.org (https://sciencenotes.org/household-chemicals-you-should-never-mix/)
Inhaling chloramine gas is extremely harmful. It reacts with the moisture in your respiratory tract to form corrosive acids, leading to symptoms like:
- Coughing and shortness of breath
- Watery, burning eyes
- A sore throat and runny nose
- Chest pain and wheezing
In severe cases, exposure can lead to chemical pneumonia and even be fatal. The key takeaway? Always use cleaning products separately and ensure areas are well-ventilated. The chloramine in your tap water and the dangerous gas are two very different things.
Is chloramine used in Australia?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, if you’re reading this from one of our major east coast cities, you’re almost certainly receiving chloraminated water right now. Australia’s major cities Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are using Chloramine instead of chlorine as a secondary disinfectant in their water treatment process. It’s been a standard practice for years to ensure our water remains safe from treatment plant to tap.
Source: 7news.com.au (https://7news.com.au/travel/transport/bullet-train-labor-promises-1-billion-to-buy-land-for-a-melbourne-to-brisbane-via-sydney-rail-line-c-104136)
How do you remove chloramine from water?
While this is fantastic for public health, it does mean that many of us want to remove chloramine (and its taste and smell) from the water we actually drink and bathe in.
This is where a good water filtration system becomes a household essential. Standard carbon filters, like those in many jugs, will reduce chlorine but are often less effective at removing the more stable chloramine. For that, you need a more robust solution.
If you’re in an apartment or rental, a benchtop water filter system can be a perfect, non-permanent option that requires no plumbing. For homeowners, under sink filtration systems are a fantastic way to have dedicated, filtered water straight from a separate tap. The gold standard for purification, however, is a Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter. An RO system uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove up to 99% of contaminants, including chloramine, dissolved solids, heavy metals, and much more, giving you incredibly pure and great-tasting water right at home.
P.S. Did you know distillation is another very effective method for removing chloramine? We dive deep into the pros and cons in our article, Does Distilled Water Have Chloramine?“
Whether you’re looking for Water Filters in Sydney, Water Filters in Melbourne, or Water Filters in Brisbane to address the specific water profile in your city, understanding what’s in your water is the first step to making the best choice for your home and health.
Stay informed and stay hydrated!
Yours in good health,
Janka from Living Whole
