Monochloramine Monitoring – Reliable Analysis, Safer Drinking Water

By Randy Turner, Technical Director, Swan Analytical USA

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), enacted in 1974, is the main federal law that ensures the quality of Americans' drinking water. Under SDWA, EPA sets standards for drinking water quality and oversees the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement those standards. The law was amended in 1986 & 1996 requiring many actions to protect drinking water and its sources.

In the early 1900’s chloramination received attention when it was found that the cost of chlorination might be reduced.  The practice of monochloramine treatment was adopted in 1916 in Ottawa, Ontario.  The first installation in the United States was in 1917 in Denver, Colorado.  Both locations used ammonia and hypochlorite to form monochloramine and noted improvements in taste.  Chloramination is becoming more popular to mitigate unwanted disinfection by-products (DBPs).