Chlorine vs chloramines — what Central Valley cities actually use
Not all disinfectants are the same. Here's what Merced and Stanislaus water agencies put in your tap water — and why it matters for your filter choice.
Every US municipal water supply is disinfected before it reaches you. The two most common disinfectants are chlorine and chloramines — and they behave very differently.
Chlorine: the classic
Cheap, effective, and easy to remove with any standard carbon filter (fridge filter, shower filter, whole-home carbon). It also dissipates on its own — leave a pitcher of water on the counter overnight and most of the chlorine will have off-gassed.
Cities that use chlorine (approx.): Merced, some rural Stanislaus systems.
Chloramines: the stubborn one
Chloramines = chlorine + ammonia. Longer-lasting in distribution pipes, which is why more and more cities are switching. But they don't dissipate on their own, and standard carbon filters can't fully remove them.
To remove chloramines, you need catalytic carbon — a specifically-activated form of carbon that catalyzes the ammonia bond. It's more expensive but it's the only option that actually works whole-home.
Cities that use chloramines (approx.): Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, most other Stanislaus urban areas.
What this means for you
If you're in Modesto/Turlock/Ceres and want chlorine taste/smell gone at every tap, standard whole-home carbon won't cut it. Our Salt-Free + Chloramine Bundle uses catalytic carbon specifically for this reason.
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