What Is Chloramine? And Why It's in Your Drinking Water?

What Is Chloramine? And Why It's in Your Drinking Water.

If you’ve been researching your home’s water quality, you may have come across the term chloramine—especially if you live in the Pittsburgh area or anywhere served by municipal water systems. Chloramine is increasingly being used by water authorities to disinfect drinking water, and while it's effective, it's also controversial.

So what is chloramine, why is it in your water, and how does it affect your plumbing, health, and home? Let’s break it down.

What Is Chloramine?

Chloramine is a chemical compound made by combining chlorine and ammonia. It’s used by many water utilities as a disinfectant to kill bacteria and other harmful microorganisms in drinking water. Chloramine is considered a secondary disinfectant, meaning it’s added after primary treatment to maintain water quality as it travels through pipes to your tap.

There are three types of chloramine:

• Monochloramine (the most commonly used in drinking water)

• Dichloramine

• Trichloramine

Most municipal water systems—including West View Water Authority in Pittsburgh—use monochloramine because it is more stable than chlorine and stays in the water longer.

Why Is Chloramine Used Instead of Chlorine?

For decades, water systems used chlorine as the primary disinfectant. However, chlorine reacts with organic matter in water and creates disinfection byproducts (DBPs) such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), which have been linked to health risks in large doses over long periods of time.

Chloramine produces fewer of these byproducts, which is why many municipalities made the switch.

Here’s why water authorities use chloramine:

• It provides longer-lasting disinfection throughout the entire water system

• It reduces harmful disinfection byproducts

• It has a milder smell and taste than chlorine

• It complies with EPA standards for safe drinking water

  
  

Is Chloramine Safe?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), chloramine used in drinking water at regulated levels is considered safe for daily use—such as drinking, bathing, and cooking—that meets federal standards. It’s approved for use by public water systems and generally does not pose direct health risks.

However, both chloramine and chlorine are still classified as contaminants at higher concentrations and are regulated precisely because excessive exposure can be harmful .

One key concern is that your largest organ—your skin—is a major pathway for chemical exposure, especially during hot showers or baths. Studies have shown that inhalation and skin absorption of chlorine or chloramine in steam can result in higher exposure levels than drinking the same water amount.

As water vapor rises, disinfectants and their byproducts can become airborne and enter your lungs and skin.

High exposure levels—especially in poorly ventilated bathrooms—can lead to dry, irritated skin, respiratory sensitivity, and higher systemic intake of disinfection byproducts than drinking tap water alone .

Why This Matters for Your Home

• Even though chloramine meets EPA standards, high chlorine or chloramine exposure over time can contribute to skin issues, discomfort, or potential long-term effects

• The shower or bath may actually be your highest single-day exposure route through vapor and skin absorption

• If you're experiencing skin irritation, respiratory symptoms, or dislike the treated water’s smell or taste, installing a catalytic carbon filter or whole-house system can significantly reduce these chemicals

  
  

In short: chloramine keeps your water safe—but it doesn’t mean it's harmless in all scenarios. Being informed and possibly adding filtration gives you peace of mind for your family’s health and comfort.

How Chloramine Affects Your Plumbing

Here’s where things get especially relevant for homeowners: chloramine can damage certain types of plumbing systems over time.

This is particularly true for:

• Older rubber and plastic seals inside faucets, toilets, and appliances

• Copper piping, especially Type M copper, which is thinner and more vulnerable to internal corrosion

• Homes with galvanized pipes that are already weakened by rust

• Water heaters exposed to chloramine-treated water often experience accelerated wear and internal corrosion, especially on metal components like anode rods and tank linings. As a result, they typically fail earlier than their expected lifespan, leading to more frequent replacements and costly repairs.

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  If you want to learn more about how homeowners who have Westview Water seem to be more susceptible to pinhole leaks, click here.

  
  

In areas like the North Hills of Pittsburgh, where chloramine-treated water flows through aging copper pipes, we’ve seen a significant increase in pinhole leaks. This suggests that the long-term presence of chloramine may be accelerating the deterioration of copper plumbing systems.

How to Remove Chloramine From Your Water

Unlike chlorine, which can dissipate by simply letting water sit out for a while, chloramine is more stable and does not evaporate easily. You need the right type of filtration to remove it.

Here are the best options:

1. Catalytic Carbon Filtration

Standard carbon filters won’t remove chloramine effectively, but catalytic carbon filters are designed to break down both chlorine and chloramine. These are often found in high-quality whole-house water filtration systems, like those offered by Lancaster Water Treatment.

2. Reverse Osmosis Systems

RO systems remove a wide range of contaminants, including chloramine. However, they are typically installed under the sink and only filter water used for drinking and cooking.

3. Vitamin C Filters (for showers)

Some showerhead filters use ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) to neutralize chloramine on contact. These can help people with skin sensitivities who react to chemically treated water.

Should You Be Concerned About Chloramine?

Most people don’t need to worry about chloramine on a daily basis, but you may want to filter it out if:

• You’re experiencing skin irritation or dryness

• You dislike the taste or smell of your tap water

• You own fish or exotic pets sensitive to chemicals

• You have older plumbing that may be breaking down faster than expected

• You simply want the purest water possible for your family

  
  

If you live in the Pittsburgh area, especially in the North Hills, and you’re experiencing unexplained plumbing issues or water quality concerns, chloramine could be playing a role.

Final Thoughts

Chloramine is widely used in modern water treatment, including in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. While it helps keep our water safe, it can also contribute to plumbing issues and may not be suitable for everyone.

If you're concerned about what’s in your water, the best place to start is with a professional water test. At Revelation Plumbing, we offer free in-home water quality testing, and we can recommend filtration systems that specifically address chloramine and other common contaminants.

Whether you're interested in a whole-house carbon system, a reverse osmosis unit, or you’re dealing with leaks caused by chloramine-related corrosion, we’re here to help.

Call us today at 412-518-7170 to schedule your water test or consultation.

Cleaner, safer, better-tasting water is just a call away.