The City of Liberty Utilities Department is committed to identifying treatment methods that allow us to continue providing safe and reliable drinking water. Beginning Dec. 1, 2014, the City of Liberty will use monochloramine in its water disinfection process.
Monochloramine has been safely and successfully used by water utilities for more than 90 years. According to the EPA, more than one in five Americans uses drinking water treated with monochloramine.
To protect public health, Federal and state regulations require the City of Liberty to maintain a disinfectant in the distribution system that carries water to customers’ taps. Monochloramine was selected as the method of choice because the EPA considers it safe and beneficial at levels typically used to treat drinking water. Additionally, the City of Liberty selected monochloramine because it produces lower levels of disinfection byproducts.
Although safe for drinking, cooking and all typical uses, monochloramine can be harmful to kidney dialysis patients. These patients can safely drink, cook and bathe in monochloramine-treated water, but monochloramine must be removed from the water used in kidney dialysis machines. Medical centers that perform dialysis or supervise home dialysis are responsible for ensuring water is purified before it enters the dialysis machine. City staff has notified these facilities of the upcoming change.
Monochloramine is also harmful to fish and other aquatic life when it directly enters the bloodstream from water that passes through their gills. Therefore, monochloramine must be removed from water used for fresh or saltwater aquariums and ponds, or any habitats that include Koi, fish, lobster, shrimp, frogs, turtles, snails, clams and live coral.