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Principles of Risk Communication 63

Part 2: Sample Risk Communication Message Map

Risk Communication Scenario or Issue: Chloramines
and Drinking Water Disinfection

Stakeholders (Interest or Affected Individuals
or Groups): Public/Media

Question or Concern: What Are Chloramines?

Chloramines are disinfectants used to treat drinking water.

• Chloramines are most commonly formed when ammonia is added to
chlorine to treat drinking water.
• The most typical purpose of chloramines is to protect water quality as it
moves through pipes.
• Chloramines provide long-lasting protection as they do not break down
quickly in water pipes.

Chloramines of greatest regulatory interest are monochloramine,
dichloramine, and trichloramine.

• If chloramines are used to disinfect drinking water, monochloramine is
the most common type.
• Dichloramine and trichloramine are produced when treating drinking
water but at much lower levels than monochloramine.
• Trichloramines are typically associated with disinfected water used in
swimming pools.

Government agencies regulate the safe use of chloramines.*

• Government agencies require water utilities to meet strict health stan-
dards when using chloramines to treat water.
• Chloramine regulations are based on the average concentrations of
chloramines found in a water system over time.

* The drinking water standard for chloramines is 4 parts per million (ppm) measured as an annual

average. More information on water utility use of chloramines is available at http://www.epa.gov/
safewater/disinfection/index.html and in the 1997–1998 Information Collection Rule, a national
survey of large drinking water utilities for the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR).
Information on the Stage 2 DBPR is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/
stage2/.