IONWAYS: CHLORAMINES REDUCTION
Capacity:  Up to 1,000 gallons

Chloramines:  How is it used?

Free chlorine has been used for decades in municipal water treatment. It turns out that the combination of chlorine and certain organics in water can produce a new category of dangerous carcinogens called Disinfectant by-Products (DBP). After the serious adverse health effects of DBPs were discovered, the USEPA promulgated the Disinfectant By-Product Rule pertaining to the use of chlorine in drinking water.

To reduce the concentration of Disinfectant by-Products in drinking water, the water industry began to use chloramines (chlorine and ammonia). By reducing the amount of chlorine and replacing it with ammonia, DBP levels dropped. More and more municipalities across the US and Canada are transitioning to chloramines in an effort to comply with EPA standards.

What are the health effects?

Hospitals and kidney dialysis centers must be alerted when chloramines are used for water supply disinfection. Cases of chloramine-induced hemolytic anemia in patients have been reported when their dialysis water was not appropriately treated. Persons with liver or kidney disease and those with hereditary urea cycle disorders are at increased risk for ammonia toxicity from the consumption of chloraminated water and kidney dialysis patients cannot use chloraminated water in their dialysis machines because it will cause hemolytic anemia.

Respiratory irritations as chloramine fumes can cause an individual to become congested and cause sneezing, sinus congestion, coughing, choking, wheezing, shortness of breath, and asthma.

Chloraminated vapor from showers, baths, hot tubs, dishwashers, and other household appliances contains volatilized chemicals that can be inhaled and cause irritation to the respiratory tract. Chloramine exposure also damages lung mucosa, making the lungs more susceptible to allergens and infections

Chloramine exposure can also cause severe skin reactions: rashes, itching, welting, chapping, cracking, bleeding, dry skin, flaking, blistering, burning sensation, scarring, and pigmentation. Chloramines can also aggravate other skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Is there any harm from drinking and bathing in contaminated water?

Unlike chlorine, chloramines do not rapidly dissipate on standing, nor do they dissipate by boiling.  Drawbacks to the use of chloramines can include potential water quality problems (e.g., nitrification and corrosion) if the municipal or well water treatment process is not carefully controlled and the system’s operational practices are not appropriately adjusted for the new disinfectant. Chloramines can change the chemical properties of the water, which can impact corrosion of lead and copper.

While chloramination has been recommended by the EPA since the 1990s as a way to lower the level of carcinogenic disinfection byproducts (DBPs) created by chlorination, it has led to unintended consequences, in some cases making the water extremely toxic. Chloramines, like chlorine, are toxic to fish and amphibians at levels used for drinking water.

How do I remove chloramine(s) from my drinking water?

The most effective way to economically reduce chloramines is through the use of specially designed carbon (catalytic). Traditional Granular Activated Carbon is not totally effective at chloramines removal IonWays. Our high capacity filter has been designed for up to 1,000 gallons of use.

IonWays is the first company in the ionizer industry to begin manufacturing of internal pre-filters, specifically designed for US and Canada water quality, of which chloramines removal is at the top of the list. The Biostone Plus combines multiple treatment barriers to ensure optimal performance and longevity for chloramines reduction. Incorporating 9 stages of treatment and a revolutionary water filter body design, the Biostone Plus is the perfect solution for areas, typically municipal treatment, where high level of chlorine and chloramines exist.

Filter Body Design:

It is common knowledge in the water industry that carbon can experience a condition known as “short circuiting” or “channeling” where small cracks develop in a column of carbon and not all of the water flowing through the filter receives the same level of treatment, thus resulting in poor performance. IonWay’s  Biostone Plus filters have been designed with a never before seen vortex inlet and outlet to ensure that water flows evenly through the filter media.

Multi-Barrier Treatment:

Taking full advantage of a multi-barrier filter design, the Biostone Plus pre-filters water through 9 individual steps that polishes it before entering the ionization chamber.

1. The Biostone Plus incorporates the amazing natural properties of hydraulics in its Vortex filter body design to ensure optimal performance and longevity of your filter

2. 9 independent filtration stages are incorporated into the Biostone Plus, including specifically treated, highly activated carbon that is designed for maximum chlorine and chloramines reduction. Multiple sediment filters are put between the various stages to treat the suspended solids in water one micron or greater.

3. The industry standard in heavy metal reduction is used (IKDF) also does a great job at chlorine and chloramines reduction too and is an integral part of the Biostone Plus.

4.  The Biostone Plus is manufactured in the US with NSF/WQA certified components.