Processing, bottling, retaining and transporting bottled water in a sanitary condition is essential for protecting water sources from bacteria, chemicals, and other contaminants. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) consider disinfection of drinking water to be one of the most important advances in public health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows drinking water treatment plants to use chloramine and chlorine to disinfect drinking water. Chloramine is a type of monochloramine which is mixed with water at levels that kill germs but are still safe to drink.
The EPA also requires public water systems to periodically analyze treated water to determine if there are regulated DBPs and at what levels. If they are above the limits set by the EPA, the water system must take steps to reduce DBPs. Actions could include adjustments in the processes of eliminating organic substances, the dose and location of disinfection, and the management of the distribution system. The water system must also notify all of its customers about DBP levels. Some water systems that use water from a groundwater source (such as community wells) don't have to add any disinfectant. We must also consider the amount of these types of compounds that people are exposed to from other sources, such as processed foods and beverages, and the ability of water systems to reduce the level of DBP in drinking water.
In 1998, an EPA survey estimated that 68 million Americans were drinking chloramine-disinfected water. Others may be at low concentrations in areas where water has been distributed for a longer time. The use of chlorine became increasingly common in the following decades, and in 1995, about 64% of all community water systems in the United States were using chlorine to disinfect water. If you notice any changes in the taste or smell of the water, chloramine-treated water may have less of a “chlorine” taste and smell than chlorine-treated water. Some DBPs may be at low concentrations in areas where water has been in the distribution system for a short time. The small amount of chloramine added to the water will not affect other pets (such as mammals and birds) and can be used regularly to water and bathe animals.
The World Health Organization states that, under any circumstances, the efficiency of disinfection should not be compromised when trying to comply with guidelines on DBPs, including chlorination by-products, or when trying to reduce the concentrations of these substances. Public water systems play an essential role in protecting public health through treatment and disinfection processes. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established current good manufacturing practices (CGMP) specifically for bottled water. Many people thought that the taste of water determined its purity, not knowing that even the best-tasting water could contain disease-causing organisms. In conclusion, there are restrictions on what type of disinfection systems can be used for bottling water in central Minnesota.
The EPA allows drinking water treatment plants to use chloramine and chlorine to disinfect drinking water. The World Health Organization states that efficiency of disinfection should not be compromised when trying to comply with guidelines on DBPs.
