Since the twenty-first century, the smell and flavor of drinking water have been improved with the use of chloramines. Chloramine, also known as monochloramine, is a compound formed from ammonia and chlorine. It is said to be useful for treating water but also harmful to certain types of people. That is why a lot of people want to get rid of chloramine by using a camping water filter.

Chloramines are used for disinfection. Water disinfected by chloramines does not cause a grave threat to your health. Water disinfected with chloramines can be used for drinking, bathing, and washing. It is also suited for any domestic purposes.

Drinking water containing chloramines or using it for boiling and bathing is rather safe because chloramines are neutralized in metabolism. Others, however, claim that there are harmful effects of chloramines in drinking water. People who have weaker immune systems like young toddlers, older people, people who are infected with HIV, and people who undergo chemotherapy should be cautious with drinking chloramine-laced water.

Furthermore, people who undergo kidney dialysis should be careful. Their blood comes in contact with water in a semi-permeable membrane which can cause chloramines to directly enter the blood vessels. This is harmful to the person because chloramines are toxic to the blood. Chloramines affect fish similarly as people who undergo kidney dialysis.

One of the many reasons why chloramine is better than chlorine is that its chemicals are rather more stable than that of chlorine. These chemicals do not easily break down unlike chlorine. However, there is a limit of chloramine concentration in drinking water. The Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level or MRDL of chloramine concentration should be up to 4mg/L only. Even though chloramine-treated water is safe to drink and use, its MRDL should not exceed the standard. Drinking water with excess chloramines could cause anemia and stomach distress. Chloramine in water can cause leakage of lead in water pipes, too. This poses as a threat to your health when lead contaminates your water supply.

Despite harmful effects which chloramine might bring, you really need it in your water supply. Water supplies may be contaminated by harmful bacteria. Chloramine in water helps in disinfecting water with bacteria, thus, making it safer.

Without chloramines in your drinking water, you could suffer from typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera from a dirty water supply. As long as you know the limit to the chloramines concentration in water and keeping it at that level, you will be safe from diseases and infections. Though, to be safe, there’s no harm in completely removing chloramines from your drinking water either. For this latter case, you can use a camping water filter or a home water filter.

Build Your Own Koi Fish Pond

Posts Related to Health Effects of Chloramines in Drinking Water

• Three Main Reasons to Filter Your Drinking Water

  Roger Sample asked: 1) HARMFUL CONTAMINANTS:Most municipal water systems are not designed to remove the complex chemicals that are finding their way into our water ...

• Chlorine in Drinking Water – Learn the Facts

  Daniel Woods asked: Shocking but true - chlorine in drinking water is a common thing. But do you know, it is really a poisonous gas ...

• Your Questions About Potable Water Treatment

  Linda asks…Chlorination and Dechlorination in Potable Water Treatment. Urgent!?Hi, What are the methods in removing the chlorine residual in water? Issit activated carbon and heating? ...

• Drinking Water Filtration System

  Gelfey Sterling asked: There are array of drinking water filters available in the market. Water filters certainly improve the quality and taste of water by ...

• Are Chemicals in Tap Water Harmful to Your Health?

  Lauren Leddy asked: I'll bet you didn't know that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors ********** different chemicals in tap water. That just covers the ...