Understanding Chloramine in Your Water Supply

Chloramine is a disinfectant commonly used by water systems to maintain safe water as it travels through pipes. In Coral Springs, Broward County, the North Springs Improvement District provides water to over 37,000 residents using groundwater sources. Their treatment includes several processes aimed at ensuring water quality, including the use of chloramine to control microbial growth.

While chloramine helps protect against waterborne pathogens, some households may notice effects such as an unusual taste or odor, or experience issues with plumbing or appliances. Because chloramine is more stable than chlorine, it can persist longer in pipes and water heaters, affecting water quality at the point of use.

What Government Data Reveals About Local Water Quality

The EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) reports that the North Springs Improvement District has two health-related violations recorded among its total 34 entries. The water system uses a range of treatment processes to address contaminants, though specific details on chloramine levels are not included in the public dataset. The source water is groundwater, which typically requires disinfection to maintain safety as water travels through distribution.

It is important to understand that these government records reflect overall system performance and distribution water quality, not the specific water in any single home’s plumbing. Factors such as plumbing materials and local conditions can influence water characteristics on a household level.

Testing Your Own Water for Chloramine

To determine if chloramine is affecting your household water, you would need to perform specific analyses on your tap water. This may include measuring chloramine concentration directly and assessing water for related factors such as oxidation potential or total chlorine residual. Because municipal water can vary in chlorine and chloramine levels over time and location, testing helps in making informed decisions about treatment options suitable for your household.

Considering Treatment Technologies for Chloramine

When evaluating approaches to address chloramine in residential water, two common technical options emerge: chemical dechlorination and activated carbon filtration. Chemical methods can neutralize chloramine but may require handling of reactive substances and ongoing maintenance. Activated carbon filters reduce chloramine by adsorption, improving taste and odor, and can also reduce other contaminants.

The Fleck PFAS Forever Chemicals Filter, a carbon-based filtration system, is designed to reduce chloramine along with other challenging compounds. This equipment ships ready to configure for household use and offers a chemical-free approach to managing chloramine effects.

Making an Informed Choice

Choosing between technical methods involves considering factors such as ease of use, maintenance, household water usage, and specific water quality conditions. Since government records show the North Springs Improvement District applies multiple treatment steps and chloramine is used as a disinfectant, filtering at the point of use with carbon filtration provides a practical way to address chloramine concerns.

Testing your household water will provide the best insight into the appropriate solution. By understanding system-wide data alongside your own water characteristics, you can select a treatment that fits your needs without guesswork.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2023-12-01. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA SDWIS record for NORTH SPRINGS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (FL4064390), groundwater supply, serving 37371 people: 2 health-based violations of 34 total; lead 90th percentile 0.0025 mg/L

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