The last several years, homeowners all over Orange County have experienced various plumbing issues; from lead leaching into their drinking water and pinhole leaks in their plumbing to early corrosion of rubber plumbing parts. The only correlation between all of these plumbing problems stems from one source – chloramine in the water supply. So what exactly IS chloramine and why is it causing so many problems?
Chloramine is used as a disinfectant by several municipal water companies, it is a combination of chlorine and ammonia and these two chemicals work together to extend the disinfecting power of chlorine. While they might extend the life of chlorine, they are not nearly as effective as chlorine. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that it is anywhere from 2,000 to 100,000 times less effective than free chlorine for the inactivation of E. Coli and rotaviruses. In addition to that, chloramine has some serious drawbacks other than plumbing as well.
Respiratory problems have also been reported with chloramine use; the fumes can cause individuals to become congested, cause coughing, choking, shortness of breath, wheezing and asthma. The vapor from chloramine treated water in baths, showers, hot tubs and dishwashers contain volatilized chemicals that can irritate the respiratory tract when inhaled. One study even concluded that there was an increase in deaths from pneumonia and influenza in communities where chloramine was used as a disinfectant.
Water treatment companies are making the switch over to chloramine because it is a more stable compound and lasts longer in the water, which will inhibit bacterial regrowth in water systems. The problem is that homeowners are bearing the brunt end of this switch. Chloramine can cause lead to leach out of pipes and the risk for lead poisoning goes up with chloramine usage. Homeowners are experiencing pinhole leaks in pipes and as a result are out tens of thousands of dollars in repairs, especially if mold is involved.
So what can homeowners do to alleviate all these potential consequences of chloramine usage? Well fortunately, the answer is easy. Rayne’s Chloramine Buster series of water filtration systems are equipped with a non-chemically impregnated activated carbon which enhances its capability to decompose compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and chloramine. They have the ability to filter out chloramine before it ever enters the house which means that homeowners will never have to worry about plumbing or health issues connected with chloramine usage. For more information on our line of Chloramine Buster’s you can visit our website.