State Approves Use of Chloramines

Water distributors in California can resume use of chloramines to disinfect drinking water because the threat to kidney dialysis patients from the chemical has been overcome, state Health Services Director Kenneth Kizer has announced.

Kizer said Friday that use of chloramines had been suspended since December by 14 urban water suppliers, including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, at the request of the state.

Kizer said inspection of 170 medical centers with dialysis facilities indicates that they have taken measures to remove the chemical from their water supplies.

The MWD had previously announced that it would resume using chloramines on Monday. Chloramines pose no threat to the general population, but officials have advised against use of chloramine-treated tap water in fish tanks.