Lathis
Chameleon Enthusiast
Something that has been nagging me, so I decided to do some additional research is the issue of the use free chlorine versus chloramines in treated tap water.
I've seen in numerous places on this forum (and given it myself, I freely admit), where advice is given to people to boil water or let it sit out to remove chlorine and chloramines that might be detrimental to chameleons. Turns out this may be misleading or even inaccurate information to give to new owners who are trusting the forum to provide reliable information.
Depending on the treatment process used by your local water department, your tap water may be treated with either "free chlorine" or "chloramines". Free chlorine is less stable, more volatile, and can be removed by allowing water to sit or boil. My local water treatment plant uses free chlorine, but the only way for me to know that was to contact them. Chloramines are a reaction product between chlorine and ammonia that is used in probably most larger municipal water treatment systems. Chloramines are far more stable, can remain in standing water for days, and are significantly more difficult to remove by boiling.
Local water departments are required by the EPA to report water testing. They are called "Consumer Confidence Reports". I acquired one from KCMO along with a very detailed water testing report by calling the water department (I am actually not on the KCMO water system, though, I needed it for work).
How many of us honestly are going to boil water for 2 solid days to remove chloramines? Honestly how many people boil water for even 2 hours to address free chlorine? This is brought up occasionally on a home brew forum that I am a member of... I am embarrassed that I didn't make this connection before.
Discussion?
I've seen in numerous places on this forum (and given it myself, I freely admit), where advice is given to people to boil water or let it sit out to remove chlorine and chloramines that might be detrimental to chameleons. Turns out this may be misleading or even inaccurate information to give to new owners who are trusting the forum to provide reliable information.
Depending on the treatment process used by your local water department, your tap water may be treated with either "free chlorine" or "chloramines". Free chlorine is less stable, more volatile, and can be removed by allowing water to sit or boil. My local water treatment plant uses free chlorine, but the only way for me to know that was to contact them. Chloramines are a reaction product between chlorine and ammonia that is used in probably most larger municipal water treatment systems. Chloramines are far more stable, can remain in standing water for days, and are significantly more difficult to remove by boiling.
From Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloramine#Removing_chloramines_from_water
"Chloramine, like chlorine, can be removed by boiling and aging. However time required to remove the chloramine is much longer than that of chlorine. The time required to remove half of the chloramine (half life) from water by boiling is 26.6 hours, while the half life of free chlorine in boiling water is only 1.8 hours.[20]"
[20]http://hbd.org/ajdelange/Brewing_articles/BT_Chlorine.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloramine#Removing_chloramines_from_water
"Chloramine, like chlorine, can be removed by boiling and aging. However time required to remove the chloramine is much longer than that of chlorine. The time required to remove half of the chloramine (half life) from water by boiling is 26.6 hours, while the half life of free chlorine in boiling water is only 1.8 hours.[20]"
[20]http://hbd.org/ajdelange/Brewing_articles/BT_Chlorine.pdf
Local water departments are required by the EPA to report water testing. They are called "Consumer Confidence Reports". I acquired one from KCMO along with a very detailed water testing report by calling the water department (I am actually not on the KCMO water system, though, I needed it for work).
EPA Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR)
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/ccr/index.html
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/ccr/index.html
How many of us honestly are going to boil water for 2 solid days to remove chloramines? Honestly how many people boil water for even 2 hours to address free chlorine? This is brought up occasionally on a home brew forum that I am a member of... I am embarrassed that I didn't make this connection before.
Discussion?
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