CHLORAMINES

A chemical complex that consists of chlorine and ammonia. It serves as a water disinfectant in public water supplies in place of chlorine because chlorine can combine with organics to form dangerous reaction products. In which forms chloramines exist depends on the physical/ chemical properties of the water source. Chloramines have a somewhat long-term effect in water, which improves the transferability through long stretches of pipes. It also improves the odor and taste issues in water made by consumers. Chloramine also produces fewer levels of regulated disinfection byproducts in comparison to chlorine and other chemicals. This benefit is important since disinfection byproducts have a tendency to produce unwanted products of chemical reactions between organic substances and chemical reactions. These byproducts have become increasingly disallowed in large quantities by the EPA, which has induced water utility companies to employ chloramine for disinfection purposes.