What is the current drinking water disinfection method?
The current method of disinfection used by the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 6 is chlorination. Chlorine is added to drinking water at a controlled level. Chlorine is an effective disinfectant of many kinds of bacteria that may be harmful to one’s health. The District’s drinking water has met State and Federal standards for bacterial control for many years. What is chloramination? Chloramination is the use of both ammonia and chlorine to disinfect water. Ammonia is added to water at a carefully controlled level. The chlorine and ammonia react chemically to produce a combined chlorine residual or chloramines. Chloramines are safe in drinking water and serve as an effective method of disinfection. In the U.S., many water systems have used chloramination for several decades. How will chloramination affect water customers? For most customers, the only noticeable change will be that the chlorine smell and taste in our water will be less apparent. Two groups of water customers
