Several major U.S. cities such as Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, and Washington, D.C. use chloramine to disinfect drinking water. Chloramine is recognized as a safe disinfectant and a good alternative to chlorine.

Where is chloramine used?

Chloramines (also known as secondary disinfection) are disinfectants used to treat drinking water and they: Are most commonly formed when ammonia is added to chlorine to treat drinking water. Provide longer-lasting disinfection as the water moves through pipes to consumers.

Does city water have chloramine?

Chloramine is a chemical variant of chlorine that contains ammonia, and is generally safe to drink and use around the home in the same way traditional, chlorine-treated tap water would be. Cities have commonly used both chlorine and chloramine chemicals to treat municipal drinking water since the early 1920s and 30s.