Department of Health
Michael C. Caldwell, MD, MPH, Commissioner
Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts (6)
MHEL
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and has determined that chlorine is a health concern at certain levels of exposure. Chlorine is added to drinking water as a disinfectant to kill bacteria and other disease-causing microorganisms and is also added to provide continuous disinfection throughout the distribution system. Disinfection is required for surface water systems. However, at high doses for extended periods of time, chlorine has been shown to affect blood and the liver in laboratory animals. EPA has set a drinking water standard for chlorine to protect against the risk of these adverse effects. Drinking water which meets this EPA standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered safe with respect to chlorine.
From 12/16/98 Federal Register 40 CFR Parts 9, 141 and 142 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts; Final Rule
MHEL
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and has determined that chloramines are a health concern at certain levels of exposure. Chloramines are added to drinking water as a disinfectant to kill bacteria and other disease-causing microorganisms and are also added to provide continuous disinfection throughout the distribution system. Disinfection is required for surface water systems. However, at high doses for extended periods of time, chloramines have been shown to affect blood and the liver in laboratory animals. EPA has set a drinking water standard for chloramines to protect against the risk of these adverse effects. Drinking water which meets this EPA standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered safe with respect to chloramines.
From 12/16/98 Federal Register 40 CFR Parts 9, 141 and 142 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts; Final Rule
MHEL
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and has determined that chlorine dioxide is a health concern at certain levels of exposure. Chlorine dioxide is used in water treatment to kill bacteria and other disease-causing microorganisms and can be used to control tastes and odors. Disinfection is required for surface water systems. However, at high doses, chlorine dioxide-treated drinking water has been shown to affect blood in laboratory animals. Also, high levels of chlorine dioxide given to laboratory animals in drinking water have been shown to cause neurological effects on the developing nervous system. These neurodevelopmental effects may occur as a result of a short-term excessive chlorine dioxide exposure. To protect against such potentially harmful exposures, EPA requires chlorine dioxide monitoring at the treatment plant, where disinfection occurs, and at representative points in the distribution system serving water users. EPA has set a drinking water standard for chlorine dioxide to protect against the risk of these adverse effects.
The information below is provided to help complete a public notice.
Note: In addition to the language in this introductory text of paragraph (e)(78), systems must include either the language in paragraph (e)(78)(i) or (e)(78)(ii) of this section. Systems with a violation at the treatment plant, but not in the distribution system, are required to use the language in paragraph (e)(78)(i) of this section and treat the violation as a nonacute violation. Systems with a violation in the distribution system are required to use the language in paragraph (e)(78)(ii) of this section and treat the violation as an acute violation.
(i) The chlorine dioxide violations reported today are the result of exceedances at the treatment facility only, and do not include violations within the distribution system serving users of this water supply. Continued compliance with chlorine dioxide levels within the distribution system minimizes the potential risk of these violations to present consumers.
(ii) The chlorine dioxide violations reported today include exceedances of the EPA standard within the distribution system serving water users. Violations of the chlorine dioxide standard within the distribution system may harm human health based on short-term exposures. Certain groups, including pregnant women, infants, and young children, may be especially susceptible to adverse effects of excessive exposure to chlorine dioxide-treated water. The purpose of this notice is to advise that such persons should consider reducing their risk of adverse effects from these chlorine dioxide violations by seeking alternate sources of water for human consumption until such exceedances are rectified. Local and state health authorities are the best sources for information concerning alternate drinking water.
From 12/16/98 Federal Register 40 CFR Parts 9, 141 and 142 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts; Final Rule
Disinfection Byproducts and Treatment Techniques for DBP's
MHEL
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and requires the disinfection of drinking water. However, when used in the treatment of drinking water, disinfectants react with naturally-occurring organic and inorganic matter present in water to form chemicals called disinfection byproducts (DBPs). EPA has determined that a number of DBPs are a health concern at certain levels of exposure. Certain DBPs, including some trihalomethanes (THMs) and some haloacetic acids (HAAs), have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Other DBPs have been shown to affect the liver and the nervous system, and cause reproductive or developmental effects in laboratory animals. Exposure to certain DBPs may produce similar effects in people. EPA has set standards to limit exposure to THMs, HAAs, and other DBPs.
From 12/16/98 Federal Register 40 CFR Parts 9, 141 and 142 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts; Final Rule
MHEL
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and has determined that bromate is a health concern at certain levels of exposure. Bromate is formed as a byproduct of ozone disinfection of drinking water. Ozone reacts with naturally occurring bromide in the water to form bromate. Bromate has been shown to produce cancer in rats. EPA has set a drinking water standard to limit exposure to bromate.
From 12/16/98 Federal Register 40 CFR Parts 9, 141 and 142 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts; Final Rule
MHEL
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and has determined that chlorite is a health concern at certain levels of exposure. Chlorite is formed from the breakdown of chlorine dioxide, a drinking water disinfectant. Chlorite in drinking water has been shown to affect blood and the developing nervous system. EPA has set a drinking water standard for chlorite to protect against these effects. Drinking water which meets this standard is associated with little to none of these risks and should be considered safe with respect to chlorite.
From 12/16/98 Federal Register 40 CFR Parts 9, 141 and 142 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts; Final Rule
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