West Batavia Water Supply Switching to Chloramination for Disinfection

July 10, 2006

As part of the city’s water system improvements, Batavia, Ill. is switching to a new form of water disinfection for water customers located west of the Fox River. For approximately the past 15 years, residents living west of the Fox River have been supplied by shallow well water that utilizes chlorine for disinfection of the water supply. Chlorine kills microbes like viruses and harmful bacteria.

Beginning in July 2006, however, residents living west of the Fox River will be supplied with water utilizing chloramines for water disinfection. Chloramines have been used in Batavia for many years. Residents living east of the Fox River have utilized chloramines since the city began adding chlorine to the water more than 50 years ago. Chloramines were also used on the west side of Batavia prior to 1992.

Chloramines, a combination of chlorine and ammonia, are regarded as a more reliable disinfectant in the water distribution system than chlorine alone because chloramines last longer. Chloramines also produce lower levels of disinfection byproducts than chlorine. To form chloramines, chlorine and ammonia are used in combination with each other. Ammonia is naturally occurring and found in groundwater throughout many areas. Ammonia can also be added to the water in very small quantities. Batavia plans to use the naturally occurring ammonia found in our groundwater and add small quantities of ammonium sulfate to form the chloramine disinfectant.

Water containing chloramines is completely safe for all people to use for drinking, bathing, watering plants and gardens, and other household uses. However, some water users who currently remove chlorine from their water for other uses will also have to remove chloramines. These water users include: dialyses patients, owners of tropical aquariums and businesses that use free chlorine in their processes.

Source: City of Batavia News

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