Salina, KS | Official Website Logo Salina, KS | Official Website Sticky Logo
  • Residents
    Community Resources
     Animal Services Building and Construction Elections Housing and Neighborhoods Pay A Ticket or Fine Recreation Trash Service Water Service Park Finder
    Living in Salina
     Arts and Culture Volunteer Opportunities Schools Smoky Hill Museum
    Public Safety
     Police Fire Report Problems Saline County Sheriff
    Transportation
     Salina CityGo Bus System Salina Airport KanCycle Bike Sharing
  • Business
    Build Your Business
     Start a Business in Salina Register Your Business in Kansas Salina Community Economic Development Organization Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Salina Downtown Inc
    Business Resources
     Make a Payment Report a Problem Trash Service Water Service
    Working with the City
     Bids and Purchasing Building and Construction Engineering Planning and Zoning
  • Government
    Boards and Commissions
     City Commission Sign Up for Email Notifications Volunteer for a Board or Commission Current City Commission Agendas and Minutes Other Boards and Commissions Agendas and Minutes Channel 20 Schedule Prior City Commission Packets
    Departments
     Arts and Humanities City Clerk's Office City Manager's Office Community and Development Services Computer Technology Department Finance and Administration Department Fire Department
    Departments
     Human Resources Department Municipal Court Parks and Recreation Department Police Department Public Works Department Utilities Department Water Department
    Records
     Public Records Request Municipal Code
  • I Want To
    Apply
     Boards and Commissions Jobs Permits Licenses
    Bids and Purchasing
     Requests Tabulations
    Learn More
     Public Notices and Legal Publications Document Archive Municipal Code City Maps City Budget Gypsum Hill Cemetery Fiber Optic Cable Installation FAQ Public Notifications 2026 Comprehensive Fee Schedule 2027 Comprehensive Fee Schedule
    Submit a Complaint
     Junk and Trash Dangerous Structures Grass and Weeds Roads Other City Equal Opportunity Employment Housing Discrimination Employment Discrimination Public Accommodation Discrimination ADA Grievance Police Department
    Submit Payment
     Water Bill Taxes Abatements Special Assessments
    Submit a Request
     Inspection Start or Stop Trash Service Special Trash Pickup Start or Stop Water Service Submit a Public Records Request Submit a Service Request Community Proclamation
    Reserve
     Park Shelters Neighborhood Centers and Lodges Downtown Plaza Downtown Parking Lot Food Truck Parking Spot Field House Space and Time Athletic Spaces and Fields
  • Jobs
    Apply
    Job Openings
    Join Salina PD
    Join Salina Fire Department
    Human Resources
    Why Choose Salina?
  • Payments
    Make a Payment
Facts About Chloramines Page Banner Image

  • Back To:

    • Facts About Chloramines

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has imposed stringent regulations to address known health risks associated with disinfection byproducts in chlorinated water. To comply with these regulations, many water systems across the country have transitioned from chlorine to another safe, proven disinfectant known as chloramines. 

    Facts About Chloramines
    Banner

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has imposed stringent regulations to address known health risks associated with disinfection byproducts in chlorinated water. To comply with these regulations, many water systems across the country have transitioned from chlorine to another safe, proven disinfectant known as chloramines. 

    Department No content items.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Chloramines


    What is chloramination?

    Chloramination is a common disinfection process used by the water industry in which a small amount of ammonia in water is added to chlorine in water at the end of our treatment process. The EPA widely accepts chloramines as an effective treatment to prevent the waterborne transmission of parasites that are capable of causing sickness. With its 100-year track record as a safe, effective disinfectant, chloramines are widely used by municipally run and privately owned water systems across the United States and Canada. Nearly all the cities in Kansas larger than Salina use chloramines. These include Wichita, Overland Park, Topeka, Lawrence, Shawnee, Lenexa, and Manhattan.


    Why does Salina use chloramines for the disinfection process?

    Chloramines help Salina to comply with federal regulations regarding disinfection byproducts, specifically to reduce the level. These byproducts are potentially harmful contaminants that form when chlorine reacts with organic compounds naturally present in the surface water sources of supply during the normal water purification process


    How do chloramines affect our drinking water?

    People use chloraminated water in all the same ways for drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and watering lawns and gardens. The only change that customers might notice is a reduced taste and odor of chlorine. If you prefer, products are available that reduce or remove chloramines, such as home treatment systems and water filters, which often contain certifications describing their effectiveness. We recommend that you visit the National Sanitation Foundation’s website for information on in-home filters that remove chloramines and chlorine


    How can we be sure that chloramination is safe?

    For nearly 100 years, water systems across the United States and Canada have used chloramines without any ill effects. The USEPA collected data from 2013 to 2015 for the Third Round of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. That data showed nearly 100,000,000 (of the total US population of 342,800,000) people in the United States drink and use chloraminated water.


    When a main break occurs with chloraminated water, what is the likelihood of a significant fish kill?

    Both chlorine and chloramines are toxic to fish. Therefore, regardless of whether water is treated with chlorine or chloramines, water companies must react quickly when main breaks occur and employ best management practices to minimize the environmental impact on streams and rivers.


    Will chloramines adversely affect my swimming pool?

    You should continue to treat your pool according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Test kits available at your local pool supply store can be used to measure the disinfectant concentration in the pool water. Contact your local pool supply store for additional details.


    When it comes to gardening, will chloraminated water harm ornamental plants, vegetables, trees or shrubs?

    No. The low levels of disinfectant in the water should not have any effect on plant life. The bacteria that contribute to plant growth live within the soil and are generally protected from chloramine concentrations by the soil layer. Soil will reduce or remove the disinfectant, thereby reducing its levels in the water that reach the plants.


    What precautions should kidney dialysis patients and fish owners take?

    Although the use of chloramines is proven to be safe, kidney dialysis patients and fish owners must take special care not to use water directly from the tap. As with chlorine, chloramines must be removed from water that is used in the kidney dialysis process and from water that is used in fish tanks or ponds. Please follow these precautions:

    KIDNEY DIALYSIS PATIENTS

    In the dialysis process, water comes in direct contact with the bloodstream. Just like chlorine, the presence of chloramines in dialysis water would be toxic and must be removed. Dialysis systems already pre-treat their source water to remove chlorine. However, some modifications might be necessary to remove chloramines. Consult your dialysis provider or health care practitioner for more information on your particular treatment need. Medical facilities that perform dialysis are responsible for purifying the water, which enters the dialysis machines. Consult your physician if you have any questions. If you use a home dialysis machine, check with your physician. They will most likely recommend the appropriate type of treatment. Many home dialysis service companies are able to make the necessary modifications. Kidney dialysis patients can drink, cook and bathe in the water, because the digestive process neutralizes chloramines before they reach the bloodstream. Chloraminated water can be used without treatment for these general uses. 

    FISH OWNERS

    Both chlorine and chloramines are toxic in very low levels and must be removed from the water used for aquatic life. Most pet stores sell disinfectant-removal products that can be added to the tap water prior to introduction to the fish tank or pond. Consult your local pet supply store for specific assistance on recommended products. Chloramines are a very stable disinfectant and will remain in water for weeks. You are advised to remove chloramines from any water used for fish or aquatic life. This approach will provide maximum protection for your pets. 


    View All FAQ
    Navigation No content items.
    False
    ×

    Residents

    Animal Services Arts & Culture Building & Construction Employment Living in Salina Housing & Neighborhoods Public Safety Recreation Report Problems Transportation

    Business

    Boards & Commission Fireworks Volunteer Opportunities E-waste Event Surplus Property Saline County Flood

    Government

    Comprehensive Fee Schedule Applications, Certificates, Licenses & Permits Open Public records Submit a Service Request Bids & Purchasing Building & Construction

    Services

    Municipal Code Economic Development Engineering Planning & Zoning Public Safety Transportation Working in Salina Utilities Voter Registration Email Notifications
    City Of Salina
    Connect With Us
    Sitemap Site Terms Privacy Policy Government Websites by GovBuilt, an MCCi brand My Profile
    City Of Salina
    Connect With Us
    Sitemap Site Terms Privacy Policy Website by GovBuilt My Profile