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1. Is monochloramine safe?

Yes, monochloramine is used safely in Canada and the United States. It has also been used in the Merklin reservoir since 2010 after the E.coli incident occurred when the water utility was privately owned. As a result, since 2010 White Rock residents who get their water from the Merklin reservoir have been enjoying drinking water treated by monochloramine.

Monochloramine approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Health Canada, and the World Health Organization among others. Since the 1930s nearly 100 million North Americans have been enjoying drinking water treated with monochloramine including Maui, Boston, San Francisco, Portland, Toronto, Ottawa, Washington D.C., Tampa Bay, Pasco, Fort Lauderdale, Waterloo, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Victoria, Abbotsford and Mission, BC.

It also lasts longer in the distribution system, so it does a better job killing bacteria in areas of the water distribution system that are near the end of the pipes, or areas that do not have as high of flow as other areas. Monochloramine-treated water does not have as strong of a taste as chlorine-treated water.

2. What will the impact of monochloramine be?

Monochloramine does not react to manganese the way that chlorine does. As the water moves through our distribution system, you will see an improvement to the aesthetic issues that the community has experienced such as issues around colour, turbidity (cloudiness), taste and odour.

3. What are the long-term health effects of monochloramine?

According to the United States Centre for Disease Control: “Current studies indicate that using or drinking water with small amounts of monochloramine does not cause harmful health effects and provides protection against waterborne disease outbreaks.”

It is approved by Health Canada, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the World Health Organization amongst others. Since the 1930s nearly 100 million North Americans have been enjoying drinking water treated with monochloramine including: Maui, Boston, San Francisco, Portland, Toronto, Ottawa, Washington D.C., Tampa Bay, Pasco, Fort Lauderdale, Waterloo, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Victoria, Abbotsford and Mission, BC.

These studies looked at monochloramine levels of less than 50 milligrams per litre in drinking water. The Canadian standards for monochloramine levels are up to 3 millograms per litre in drinking water and White Rock levels will be around 1 milligrams per litre.

4. What is the amount of ammonia that will be added and will there be an impact on my health?

The amount of ammonia added until now is 0.05 milligrams per litre. Health Canada's Guideline for Canadian Drinking Water for chloramine is not to exceed 3 mg/L; therefore, the amount the City is using is low. Furthermore, once ammonia is introduced into the system it will react with chlorine and form monochloramine. There are no health implications for monochloramine under the 3 milligrams per litre concentration level set by Health Canada.

5. Does using monochloramine increase the cost of water?

There will be minimal budget implications because the City already has the pumps for the ammonia application. The cost of the addition of approximately 0.1 milligrams per litre would be a very small addition to the operation cost. In addition, there should be cost savings when the staff time flushing in areas of complaint are reduced and the eliminating the additional flushing of the entire system.

6. Do home water softeners remove monochloramine?

Most water softeners are not designed to remove monochloramine.

7. Does bottle water have monochloramine?

Normally it does not. Bottled water could contain monochloramine if the company uses water supplied with monochloramine in its water source.

8. What does chloraminated water taste like?

Monochloramine itself is colourless, tasteless and odourless. In comparison to chlorinated water, chloraminated water does not have a strong chlorine taste.

9. If monochloramine is such an effective disinfectant, why is it not used in every community?

While the public often considers all drinking water to be the same, the local raw water and water distribution conditions determine the best option for each particular community. Both chlorine and monochloramine have their own advantages and disadvantages. Given sufficient contact time, monochloramine is as effective as chlorine in destroying bacteria. While chlorine works more quickly, it does not last as long in the water as monochloramine.

The City is utilizing chloramination, as the water from the aquifer does not require primary treatment. The disinfectant is added to ensure the quality of the water is maintained throughout the distribution system.

Since the 1930s nearly 100 million North Americans have been enjoying drinking water treated with monochloramine including Maui, Boston, San Francisco, Portland, Toronto, Ottawa, Washington D.C., Tampa Bay, Pasco, Fort Lauderdale, Waterloo, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Victoria, Abbotsford and Mission, BC.

10. Is monochloramine safe for swimming pools?

Yes. Your pool still requires a free-chlorine residual to delay algae and bacterial growth. Test kits measure free-chlorine residuals and can be used with confidence. Contact your local pool supply store for details.

11. Will monochloramine make my water clear?

As the water moves through our distribution system, the aesthetic impacts from the chlorine reacting with the naturally occurring manganese will be reduced.

Fraser Health Authority has approved both chlorine and monochloramine as a secondary disinfectant.