The Hidden Chemical In Saskatoon's Tap Water: Chloramine

What exactly is chloramine?

Chloramine is a chemical cocktail of chlorine + ammonia used by Saskatoon (and many other cities) to keep water disinfected all the way from the treatment plant to your tap. Unlike chlorine, it doesn’t just “evaporate out.” Letting your water sit, boiling it, or shaking it in a jug won’t make it disappear.

That means every sip, every shower, and even your cooking water can still carry this stubborn disinfectant.

Why do cities use it?

Because chloramine lasts longer than chlorine in pipes and creates fewer certain by-products. On paper, it’s efficient. But for homeowners, the trade-offs are real.

The reasons people choose to remove chloramine

• Taste & odor → That flat, chemical tang in tap water? It’s usually chloramine.

• Skin & hair irritation → Many notice dryness, itchiness, or dull hair.

• Sensitive uses → Chloramine must be removed for dialysis water, aquariums, and baby formula prep.

• Fish & aquariums → Chloramine is toxic to fish. Every water change means neutralizer drops, testing, and stress. Miss a step and you can lose your entire tank overnight. With a whole-home filter, your tap water is already safe.

• Baby formula hassle → Many parents buy distilled water because they don’t want chlorine or chloramine in their baby’s bottles. But it’s expensive, annoying to carry, and a nightmare if you run out at 2 a.m. Treating your whole home means every faucet already gives you safe water — no more last-minute store runs.

• By-products → Chloramine can form NDMA, a nitrosamine regulated in parts per trillion.

• Plumbing issues → It can wear out rubber seals faster and, in some cases, even increase lead release in older pipes.

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The big myth: “Just let it sit”

With chlorine, that works. With chloramine, it doesn’t. Saskatoon even confirms: chloramine will not evaporate. The only way to remove it is with the right filtration.

How do you get rid of it?

The good news: you can take control at home.

• Catalytic carbon filters → Specifically designed to break down chloramine.

• Reverse osmosis systems → Use carbon pre-filters rated for chloramine before the RO membrane.

• Whole-home solutions → Protect every tap, shower, aquarium, and bottle of baby formula.

  
  

Why this matters for Saskatoon families

Every drop of water in Saskatoon is chloraminated. That’s not going to change. But you can change what comes out of your tap.

And here’s the thing: if fish can’t live in water with chloramine, why should your family?

Ready to see the difference?

At Serenity Water, we install Canadian-made systems built to remove chloramine and protect your whole family with lifetime warranty and free annual service.

Book your free in-home water test today (a $250 value) and see exactly what’s in your water and how to get rid of any contaminant.