Chloramine

Chloramines are compounds in which chlorine atoms bond to ammonia-derived nitrogen. Monochloramine is used as a disinfectant in drinking-water systems.

Monochloramine: A compound with one chlorine atom bonded to ammonia-derived nitrogen, used as a drinking-water disinfectant. It is the chloramine species most commonly maintained as a residual disinfectant in distribution systems.
Drinking water treatment: The processes used to make source water safe and suitable for consumption. Chloramine is one option for disinfecting treated water before it enters distribution pipes.
Disinfection byproduct: A chemical formed when a disinfectant reacts with substances in water. Chloramine can participate in reactions that produce nitrogen-containing disinfection byproducts.
Free chlorine: Dissolved chlorine species, chiefly hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite, that disinfect water rapidly. It provides faster inactivation than chloramine but usually leaves a less persistent residual.
Dichloramine: A chloramine with two chlorine atoms bonded to one nitrogen atom. It forms alongside monochloramine under some water-treatment conditions and can affect taste and odor.
Water distribution system: The pipes, pumps, tanks, and facilities that deliver treated water to users. Chloramine’s persistence helps maintain a disinfectant residual across long pipe networks.
Nitrification: The microbial oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate. Ammonia released as chloramine decays can fuel nitrification in distribution systems.
Chlorine dioxide: A chlorine-containing gas used as a disinfectant and oxidant in water treatment. It is an alternative disinfectant with different reaction products and residual behavior.
Nitrogen trichloride: A volatile compound with three chlorine atoms bonded to one nitrogen atom. It can form at high chlorine-to-ammonia ratios and contributes to irritating pool odors.
Chloramination: The deliberate addition of ammonia and chlorine to water to produce chloramine disinfectants. This treatment practice controls chloramine formation and residual levels.

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