What a Certified Laboratory Test for Chloramine Reports and How to Read It
If you have your household water tested by a certified laboratory, the report will detail the chloramine concentration as measured in your tap water. Such testing reflects the combined presence of chlorine and ammonia used as a disinfectant by your local water supplier. It is important to understand that these test results are specific to your home's water supply and plumbing, rather than general water quality data for your area.
Government records for the Maine Water Company Biddeford Saco Division, which serves Biddeford, Saco, and surrounding York County areas, show that chloramine is used as part of their water treatment process. However, these records do not provide specific concentration values for chloramine present at individual homes. Only analysis from your own water sample can establish your home's chloramine level.
The Role of Plumbing Material and Age, Separate from the Source Water
Your household plumbing materials and the age of your pipes can influence how chloramine behaves and how it affects your water quality. For example, older plumbing may react differently with chloramine than newer piping, potentially impacting taste or causing discoloration. This variation occurs regardless of the chloramine concentration recorded in the public water system's supply.
Understanding this distinction is essential before deciding on a treatment approach. Addressing chloramine at the household level may require considering your plumbing layout and materials alongside water chemistry.
A Worked Example: Reading the Record's Median and Range as a Homeowner Would
Government data for the local water system show treatment process codes indicating the use of chloramine among other methods. No exceedances of health-based standards for chloramine have been recorded in the public system's monitoring, though there is a single EPA health-based violation unrelated to chloramine.
This means the chloramine levels in the treated surface water served to your community are compliant with public health regulations. However, the actual chloramine presence at your tap may vary due to factors like pipe length and water storage. Testing your home's water specifically will provide a clearer picture to guide treatment decisions.
What Questions a Commercial or Industrial Operator Adds That a Household Does Not
Commercial and industrial water users typically require detailed analysis of chloramine concentrations across multiple points in their process water system. They consider how chloramine interacts with equipment materials and affects operational efficiency or product quality.
For a household, the focus is narrower—primarily on health and aesthetic impacts such as taste, odor, and potential staining. Unlike commercial users, homeowners seldom need detailed continuous monitoring but benefit most from a one-time detailed tap water test before treatment selection.
The Order in Which to Rule Things Out, from Cheapest Check to Laboratory Test
Start by noting any unusual taste, odor, or staining consistent with chloramine presence. Then, inquire about local water quality data, which confirms that chloramine is part of the treatment process but does not predict your home's water chemistry.
If concerns remain, testing your household water at a certified laboratory is the most reliable step. This helps determine if chloramine treatment is suitable and, if so, which type fits your specific water conditions.
The C-Series Chloramine (City Water) Filter ships ready to configure and offers targeted treatment for chloramine commonly found in municipal systems like yours.
What You Should NOT Conclude from Area Data
Local water system chloramine usage and treatment codes do not confirm the exact chloramine levels in your home. Detection of chloramine by the public system is not a safety violation, nor does it mean your water is unsafe. You cannot assume your home's water shares the public system's median or range without specific testing.
Choosing a treatment should be based on your own water test results combined with knowledge of your plumbing characteristics. This ensures an informed, effective approach to managing chloramine in your household water.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2024-12-31. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA SDWIS record for MAINE WATER COMPANY BIDDEFORD SACO DIV (ME0090170), surface water supply, serving 42508 people: 1 health-based violations of 1 total; lead 90th percentile 0 mg/L