Kidney dialysis patients can safely drink, cook and bathe in chloraminated water. Monochloramines are only harmful if they directly enter the bloodstream. Since water does come into contact with the bloodstream during hemodialysis, very strict water purification standards are already followed by the kidney dialysis industry. These standards are set forth by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation and specifically address chloramines.
Water purification techniques used for kidney dialysis are already designed to remove both chlorine and monchloramines. Industry standards require that a nurse, technician or trained caregiver test for both chlorine and monochloramines after the purification process to ensure that these chemicals have been removed from the water before it is used in the dialysis machine.
All kidney dialysis patients, even those that receive their treatments from a trained relative or caregiver at home, must be under the care of a kidney dialysis center. All centers in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, as well as hospitals with acute dialysis facilities, were informed about the addition of monochloramines and have provided written documentation that they are aware of and prepared for, this change, and that they have informed their patients, including their “self-treating” patients, of this change.
