MAHONING COUNTY Aqua Ohio to change method of water purification

The change could affect those on dialysis and some pets.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- A local water treatment company is changing its methods of water purification, but company officials say only a small percentage of customers need to be concerned about the change.
Aqua Ohio is planning to change the method of disinfecting water treated in its Struthers Division. The company will go from a chlorine-based system to a system using chloramine -- a combination of chlorine and ammonia.
The change will affect customers living in Struthers, Poland, Lowellville and New Middletown as well as portions of Coitsville, Boardman, Beaver, Canfield and Springfield townships. The company plans to make the change sometime in January 2005.
According to Carl McMorran, Aqua production manager, state and federal laws have changed regarding the amount of allowable "byproducts," or compounds picked up by drinking water as it travels through the system and into the community. He said chloramine has a longer-lasting effect on the water and will better eliminate byproducts through the system.
A word of caution
McMorran said chloramine is a more effective water disinfectant and has been used for some time in several areas across the country and in Canada. Most customers, he said, have nothing to worry about with the change, but some should take extra precautions.
"Because we are adding ammonia, it can become a health hazard if it gets into the bloodstream in high levels. There really is only one way for that to happen to a person and that is if you are being treated with dialysis," he said.
The dialysis process, McMorran said, intermingles blood with water leading to the potential for high concentrations in an individual's blood. All chloramine in the water, he said, should be removed before it is used in the dialysis process.
According to McMorran, fish in tanks and ponds could also be affected by the chloramine.
In a press release, the company suggest dialysis patients and customers with fish tanks test the water with a chlorine residual test kit capable of measuring the total chlorine in the water before using it. Because chloramine is virtually odorless, smelling the water is not an appropriate means of detecting the chemical.
Removal methods
McMorran said chloramine can be removed from the water using any number of dechlorinating agents or carbon filters.
Chloramine "is very easily removed; you just need to know that it's there," he said.
An Aqua press release said the company has notified all local medical centers, hospitals, pet stores, restaurants and grocery stores with fish or lobster tanks about the change. The company suggests those with home dialysis machines contact their physician or medical supplier for removal suggestions.
McMorran said the change should not create any alarm in the community.
"It's a pretty standard treatment technique. We just want to make sure we don't blindside everyone," he said. "This should be of no concern at all. If we were to do this without notice, 99 percent of the people would not even notice."
jgoodwin@vindy.com