Washington, DC —Beginning May 18, the Washington Aqueducts water treatment plants will resume using chloramine (chlorine plus ammonia) for drinking water disinfection. The Washington Aqueduct treats and provides water to the District of Columbia, Arlington County and the City of Falls Church in Virginia.

Chloramine provides long-lasting protection as water flows through the District’s large distribution system and to the tap. Chloramine also lowers the levels of certain byproducts of water disinfection — known as disinfection byproducts (DBPs) — that are associated with potential health risks.The temporary use of free chlorine instead of chloramine, which began February 1, is a standard practice in the water utility industry. It is an annual process used to keep water mains clean and free of potentially harmful bacteria throughout the year.

As always, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC WASA) will monitor the drinking water regularly to ensure it meets or exceeds federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. Customers may continue to notice a chlorine taste and odor for an additional week before the chloramine reaches the entire water distribution system. This taste may be reduced by refrigerating a pitcher of drinking water overnight.

Those people who take special precautions to remove chlorine from tap water, such as users of dialysis machines, operators of medical facilities or owners of aquatic pets should also take the appropriate precautions for removing chloramine.

Information About Lead in Water

Lead in drinking water originates from lead service lines or from internal plumbing and fixtures that contain some elements of lead. Studies have also shown that household galvanized plumbing connected to a lead service line can accumulate lead and release it into the drinking water, even after the lead service line is removed.

As was widely reported, the Washington Aqueduct’s conversion in November 2000 from free chlorine to chloramine later resulted in a substantial change in lead release in District homes with lead service lines. At the time, this disinfectant change was required to meet more stringent federal regulations limiting the acceptable concentrations of DBPs produced when free chlorine reacts with organic matter in the raw water. The addition of orthophosphate to the water treatment process in 2004 caused lead releases to decline, and this practice continues to this day.

Over the past several years, the Washington Aqueduct has changed the water chemistry to free chlorine for a temporary period each spring. Household testing has not shown elevated lead levels above the EPA’s action level as a result of this change. DC WASA will continue to sample households with lead service lines to ensure that the temporary change in treatment does not result in elevated lead levels in District homes.

In general, District residents should contact DC WASA to determine if their water service lines are lead and remove all sources of lead in the household. Pregnant women and children under the age of six should use filtered tap water for drinking, and to prepare infant formula or concentrated juices, until all sources of lead are replaced.

For additional information or questions on water quality and lead, please contact the DC WASA Water Quality Division at (202) 612-3440 or visit www.dcwasa.com/waterquality. After hours, customers may call the 24-hour Emergency Call Center at 202-612-3400.

DC WASA: 202-612-3440 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or 202-612-3400 (24-hour)

DC WASA General Manager George S. Hawkins is available for interviews.

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www.dcwasa.com

http://washingtonaqueduct.nab.usace.army.mil/

District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority

CONTACT: Alan Heymann Public Affairs (202) 787-2200

Washington Aqueduct CONTACT: Miranda Brown Water Quality (202) 764-0019

Washington Post

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