What is chloramine and why is it in some Vermonters' water and why is it a problem?

This saga has been playing out since April 2006 when the Champlain Water District serving 68,000 people in Chittenden County switched from chlorine to chloramine as a water disinfectant. Since then, some people have been complaining about skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal problems that go away when they go off the water.

The meeting on Wednesday promises to be well populated by the press, so stay tuned to this important story, which also affects people on other states as they attempt to comply with new EPA rules by using the cheapest alternative.

See www.vce.org/chloramine.html for more information.

CDC Officials to Visit Vermont

Tuesday September 25, 2007
John Dillon, Montpelier, Vt.

(Host) Federal health experts will be in Vermont on Wednesday to hear concerns about a water additive that some people say makes them sick.

The officials from the U-S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were invited here by the state Health Department.

VPR's John Dillon has more:

(Dillon) More than a year ago, the Champlain Water District began adding a new disinfectant to the public water system.

The chemical is called chloramine, and it's supposed to kill bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. It's used in addition to chlorine treatment.

But some of the district's customers complained that the chloramine caused skin and eye irritation.......