Chloramine Information

Postcard to Tulsa Water Customers

In June 2010, the City of Tulsa and the Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority announced plans to begin using chloramine as a secondary water disinfectant in Tulsa's water supply in July, 2012. The City will continue to use chlorine as the system's primary disinfectant.

Why is Tulsa making this change? Switching to secondary chloramine disinfection will help Tulsa meet the EPA's stricter water safety rule (the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule), which goes into effect in 2012 and provides higher standards for drinking water. By making this change, the City of Tulsa will be able to provide longer-lasting protection and water that continues to meet drinking water standards to every part of the city.

Here are a few quick facts about chloramine:

Chloramine Quick Facts

• Chloramine, like chlorine, is a disinfectant commonly used to treat drinking water.
• Chloramine is formed by adding trace amounts of ammonia to chlorine in water.
• Chloramine has been used as a reliable disinfectant to treat water in cities across the United States since 1917 -- more than 90 years.
• The EPA has determined that the use of chloramine will help reduce the concentration of regulated disinfection byproducts in the distribution system while still controlling bacterial growth in the City's water system.