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South Hero, VT

I just found out several physical problems I've had for years are due to chloramine used to treat town water.

If the water is bad for me, how bad is it for my pumpkin patch? I've read it is extremely difficult to remove.

5/22/2012 9:34:16 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

Steve: i also am stuck with chloramine as well, and I'm sure many folks who have municipal water have chloramine instead of just plain old chlorine which will gas off if allowed, i have posted a few time in the past with regards to this but did not seem to generate much interest, many municipalities have been switching over to chloramine in recent years, while i have no info on it's effects on plants i do know that it has an effect on living organisms like those found in compost tea, i have a storage collection off my roof for 525 gallons of rain water in which i use for the plants when they are small and for compost tea and mixing water sol. ferts, as you said removing chlorinates can be expensive.

Glenn

5/23/2012 8:17:57 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Here is some reading I found on chloramine...some real good reading and a whole bunch of facts.

http://www.city.ketchikan.ak.us/public_utilities/waterconv/ChlorinatedChloramineFactSheet.pdf

http://www.chloramine.org/chloraminefacts.htm

http://www.allgoodwaterfilters.com/03/2012/chloramine-facts.html

http://www.amwater.com/paaw/ensuring-water-quality/pa-chloramine-facts/fact-vs-fiction.html

http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/mdbp/chloramines_index.cfm

5/23/2012 11:12:02 AM

South Hero, VT

Thanks Glenn and Glenn. I guess if you don't know what chloramine is and what it can do, you ain't going to care.

BUT: if I am physically affected adversely by this sh*t in my water, it must be sticking it to my plants and micro-organisms in my patch as well.

Time to make plans to collect rainwater and pump water from a small swamp 300 yards to my patch.

5/23/2012 6:47:42 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

steve: my best years have all been during very rainy summers it seems, whether this is a coincidence or not i don't know, maybe we can get some of the top weight growers to post their water source? i'd like to see if we have a chloramine fed pumpkin in the upper weights?

Glenn

5/23/2012 8:15:58 PM

South Hero, VT

Glenn Peters: That sounds like a plan. We may have to post our question on more than one board to get a solid response.

It seems some people posting on BP believe that once the chloramine treated water soaks into the soil, microorganisms counteract the chemical.

Only a poll of heavy hitters can give us much needed info to proceed on.

5/23/2012 8:46:57 PM

Springfield, VT

The cloramine shouldn't be an issue at the residual levels permitted by a state. The levels are high enough to keep bacteria down in the water system and people from being sick from water bourne diseases. Your location on the water system will have some impact on the Clorine levels, high near the source lower further out.
Gas chlorine typically is not used anymore due to safety concerns with leaks.
If you feel it is a problem a carbon filter will remove alot of it from the water.
You should be able to get a test report of on the municipal water source.

5/24/2012 8:21:04 AM

South Hero, VT

Thanks for replying, Wilbur. Your input is greatly appreciated

5/24/2012 5:47:28 PM

Seattle, WA

humic and ascorbic acid are excellent for removing chloramine. any organic matter will take care of it though. you could also look into a hose end carbon filter.

5/24/2012 9:48:22 PM