Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice
P.O. Box 2012
Charlottesville, VA 22902

Position Statement: Use of Chloramines in our Water Supply

The Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice opposes the use of chloramines as a disinfectant in water supplied by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. We believe chloramines may increase risks to human health and the environment. We favor the use of granular activated carbon filtration.

The reasons for CCPJ’s opposition to the use of Chloramines in our water supply are:

• The EPA’s own reports on chloramines indicate that there has been little study on the affect of water treated with chloramines on human health and natural ecosystems.

• There is evidence that byproducts formed during the use of monochloramine as a disinfectant may be mutagenic and carcinogenic. Use of chloramines has also been associated with numerous health problems.

• Water treated with chloramines kills fish and amphibians if released into the aquatic environment.

• It has been well demonstrated (during the lead scandal in Washington DC) that the use of chloramines in drinking water causes increased leaching of lead and copper from copper piping. This can cause very high lead levels in drinking water, and is a major threat to human health.

*Based upon scientific studies, we believe chloramines may increase risks to human health and the environment. As basic to life as water is, we as a society must use the best available technology. As a social justice issue supported by scientific study, our concern is that low income groups are adversely affected by low quality water systems at a higher ratio than any other group. Demographics show that low income groups have less capital to maintain water systems which results in higher rates of lead poisoning when compared to their more affluent neighbors. Due to lack of funds, some cannot afford expensive filtration systems or spring water; they cannot move to an area with quality water systems and, after drinking poor quality water over a long period of time, have the least ability to cope with resultant chronic diseases.

For these reasons the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice opposes the use of chloramines in our municipal drinking water.