CHLORAMINES Straight Talk About Water Quality Lead and Your

The Facts About Chloramination As Pennsylvania American Water proceeds with plans to improve its water treatment process, we want to keep you informed about the proposed switch to chloramines. This change is necessary to meet future drinking water standards, so that we continue to provide high-quality water service for drinking, cooking, bathing and all other typical uses. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Q. Why is Pennsylvania per million gallons of water, American Water changing its or two quarts to a football fi eld fi lled four disinfection process? feet deep. The EPA widely accepts chloramines as an We are switching from to chloramine effective method of water disinfection. The to ensure that our drinking water continues to amount of chlorine and ammonia applied comply with all U.S. Environmental Protection to form chloramines is carefully controlled Agency (EPA) drinking water standards. The by water utility professionals. EPA is imposing more stringent standards to reduce health risks associated with disinfection Q. Does chloramination byproducts (DBPs) in chlorinated water. These have a proven track record DBPs form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic materials, such as decompos- as a safe and effective ing plant material, in the raw water. ? Since chloramine is not as reactive as chlorine Since the early 1900s, chloramines have with organic materials, it produces substantially been used routinely to treat drinking wa- lower concentrations of DBPs. In addition, ter across the United States and Canada. chloramine is more stable than chlorine and Nearly one in three U.S. surface water more effective at extending disinfection through facilities currently use chloramination. the pipelines that distribute water to custom- The fi rst U.S. implementation occurred in ers’ homes and businesses. Denver in 1917, and today, about one in Q. What is chloramination? fi ve Americans receive drinking water treat- ed with chloramines. U.S. cities supplied by To disinfect drinking water, chloramination is a chloraminated water include Washington, For more common industry application in which chlorine D.C., San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, India- information is mixed with a very small amount of ammonia. napolis, Philadelphia and nearby York, PA. It would be like adding less than two quarts of Contact our Continued on reverse Customer Service Center at (800) 565-7292. Did You Know? Our customer In Pennsylvania, 73 water systems serving approximately 4 million people – or one out of service every three Pennsylvanians – rely on chloramines to effectively treat drinking water. representatives are available What’s more, Pennsylvania American Water brings years of experience providing 24/7 to assist chloraminated water in its community water systems, which include Norristown, Clarion, you. Yardley, Butler, Ellwood City and Connellsville.

WE CARE ABOUT WATER. IT’S WHAT WE DO. Q. How will my drinking water be Q. When will the new disinfection affected? process be implemented? You will not notice any changes, except some may The switch to chloramine is anticipated later this For more notice that the taste and odor of chlorine is reduced. year. Customers will be notifi ed in writing at least Chloraminated water can be used in all the same three months prior to the transition. information ways for drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning and Contact our Pennsylvania American Water received the watering lawns and gardens. The change in disinfec- Customer Service necessary permits in 2006 from the PA Depart- tion processes will take place at Pennsylvania Center at ment of Environmental Protection. In 2007, we American Water’s treatment facilities that serve (800) 565-7292. customers in Camp Hill, East Pennsboro, Enola, delayed implementation to provide customers Fairview, Hampden, Lemoyne, Lower Allen, Newberry, with more time to learn about chloramination. Our customer New Cumberland, New Kingstown, Shiremanstown, A small group of opponents raised legal service Silver Spring, Upper Allen and Wormleysburg. challenges. All challenges have been dismissed representatives by the courts in all of the decisions made to date are available Q. Are there any special precautions before the Commonwealth Court, Environmental 24/7 to for specifi c types of water use? Hearing Board and the PA Public Utility assist you. Commission. Two groups of people need to take special care when using chloraminated water: Q. Why doesn’t Pennsylvania • Kidney dialysis patients: American Water delay implemen- Because water comes in contact with the blood- tation until further research into stream in the dialysis process, chloramine in the chloramine is completed? water would be toxic, just as chlorine would be We welcome and support ongoing research into toxic. Chloramines can be removed by adding chloramine’s use to disinfect drinking water. ascorbic acid or by fi ltering the water through However, the EPA widely accepts chloramines granular activated prior to use. Dialysis as a safe, effective treatment. EPA believes that patients can drink chloraminated water and use drinking water disinfected with chloramine that it for bathing, washing wounds and all other stan- meets regulatory standards poses no known or dard uses of water. Contact your physician if you anticipated adverse health problems. have any health-related questions. If additional research prompts the EPA to • owners: change its guidelines in the future, we will adopt Both chlorine and chloramines are toxic to fi sh those new standards. But today, it is unknown in very low levels and must be removed from the how long such research would take, and what, if water to be used in an . Most pet stores any, changes EPA would make. In the meantime, sell a disinfectant-removal product that can be the new federal regulations take effect in 2012, added to the prior to introduction to and the company believes in being proactive to the fi sh tank or pond. It is wise to remove chlora- ensure that our water meets all public health mines from water used for fi sh or aquatic life. standards.

For more information Be sure to get the facts about chloramines from trusted, credible organizations, such as: • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/chloramine • Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/watersupply • Pennsylvania Department of Health: http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?A=171&Q=248993 • San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: http://sfwater.org

WE CARE ABOUT WATER. IT’S WHAT WE DO.