Posted by Denise Johnson-Kula, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Jan 16, 2008 at 4:49 pm

Although air bubbles in the tap water are not harmful. There are serious concerns about chloramine, the disinfectant used to treat surface water sources like the Hetch Hetchy reservoir or the Alameda County watershed.

Since chloramine has increasingly replaced chlorine as the disinfectant in many water systems across the country, including the Hetch Hetchy system in 2004, water users began experiencing health problems. Many individuals who are exposed to chloraminated water develop skin, respiratory and/or digestive symptoms.

These conditions look like allergic reactions or acid reflux and irritable bowel. The symptoms are actually caused by chloramine's irritating effect on the skin and the mucous membranes that line the respiratory and digestive tracts. They can range from mild, like a minor rash, to severe and even life threatening, like extreme respiratory distress.

If you think that you may be suffering from chloramine in your tap water or have other questions about chloramine, please call Citizens Concerned About Chloramine at: 650-328-0424.

For more information visit: www.chloramine.org