About Us

The Chloramine Info Center is a grassroots organization of over 2,000 citizens of Sourth Central Pennsylvania who oppose the introduction of CHLORAMINE into our drinnking water. Members of this group cross political, age and economical lines.

We have diligently researched the issues presented in this website. Every fact presented on this website has been validated by at least one expert in the field of science or water management. We bring you documentation, peer reviewed scientific studies and data from EPA, DEP and American Water Company and their subsidiaries to support our position.

We are committed to stop the introduction of CHLORAMINE in our water systems before it is begun and to assist other areas in having it removed from their systems. We invite dialogue and information. We promote a resolution that will benefit both the water company and their customers.

We are not radical activitists looking for a cause. We are, senior citizens, cancer survivors, young parents, grandparents, pet owners, fisherman, citizens concerned about our health, our environment, limited water resources, and our children's future.

We are asking for clean, safe water and we demand an honest and accountable water company.

There is no fee to join our group. We have petitions for you to sign IF YOU WISH.

We gratefully accept donations to help us with costs of copying materials for meetings, maintaining a website and paying experts when needed. We have had the gracious assistance of several attorney's who have donated their time thus far representing us at the DEP, the PUC and in appeals courts. The experts we have consulted have asked little to nothing so far for their assistance. However, we cannot expect to continue to receive their time pro bono in these tough economic times.

The Chloramine Information Center will gladly speak to ANY group, whether it be 5 people or 500. We will give a presentation to fit your schedule from 20 minutes to 2 hours, answer questions and provide materials.

HISTORY OF THIS GROUP

In early July 2007, The Pennsylvania American Water Company (PAWC) announced in a flyer mailed to customers that on August 12, 2007 they would be changing their water disinfection system, from clorine to chloramines. On July 26TH PAWC held two public meetings to explain the process and answer questions. Many concerned customers came to those meetings with research studies and questions as to the health concerns of this chemical compound. Customers questions were not answered and the water company became irritated and disrepectful toward its customers in attendence. After further research and the inability to engage in a respectful dialogue with any agency involved, many citizens stood together to collectively question the use of "chloramines" and the companies' reasoning for switching to them with such little advanced notice.

We have engaged the local municipalities in this discussion and at least five of them have supported us with letters to PAWC and PUC to delay any introduction of chloramine until further research is done on the health issues. Letters have been written to Governor Rendell, the secretary of DEP, the Department of Health and our state and federal representatives.

The Yellow Breeches Watershed Association and the Conodoguinet Watershed Association have gone on the record to support an indefinate delay in the use of chloramine in order to reserach alternatives that would not be hazardous to fish, other aquatic wildlife and the environment.

Members from this group have filed legal actions against PAWC at the DEP (for failure to provide adequate and reasonable notice), the PUC (challenging the reasonableness of the change in disinfection, the reasonableness of notice by PAWC to customers, and the suitability of water for household uses) and are currently drafting a complaint for the Court of Common Pleas.

The DEP case has been denied by the Environmental Hearing Board of the DEP. On appeal, the Commonwealth Court affirmed the DEP EHB. We have filed a Petition for Reconsideration or Reargument. We are awaiting a ruling on this Petition.

The PUC case regarding Chloramine is before the Administrative Law Judge for a Recommendation. Once the Recommendation is filed, we will have an opportunity to file exceptions to be considered by the Commission. Should the Commission rule against us, we would have the opportunity to appeal that ruling to the Commonwealth Court.

We were not permitted to address health issues to the DEP because the comment period on the permits had expired in 2005, long before any of us were given notice about the aniticipated change in disinfection. We were not permitted to address health issues at the PUC because the PUC declared such issues to be the sole jurisdiction of DEP. So, according to the administrative offices of Pennsyvlania, the consumers have no recourse regarding health issues of chloramine.

Our reserach has continued throughout the past year and a half and we have added books, studies and documentary films to our library of materials. We have found NOTHING to dispute the information upon which wehave relied.

The contents of this site include peer reviewed scientific articles and studies. every statement made on this site has been verified by either a professor of environmental engineering, a professor of public health, a scientist on the study, a medical physician or other professional in the field of interest. We have provided sites to studies and websites with further information, however we do not have control over the acuracy of their content. We vouch only for the information contained on this website.