Caution!!! This is not the usual blog entry!
OK for me Milpitas water isn't exactly killing me, but it is emotionally and physically taking a toll on my well being and health!! I am not sure if any of you guys have been experiencing symptoms related to chloramine in our water. Chloramine is a combination of chlorine and ammonia. Chloramine came into our pristine Hetch Hetchy water supply in spring 2004 when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided that chlorine, the disinfectant that had protected municipal water for many years, wasn't good enough any more. I have shaved my legs in milpitas symptom free for many years before spring 2004. Ever since spring 2004 my symptoms have included extremely itchy legs after shaving, ingrown hairs, and an intense burning sensation on my legs after shaving everytime! The itch is so bad that I will plan vacations so that i can shave in another area where hetch hetchy is not the water supply, hence my trip to Reno included a Friday night stay. Chloramine is really dangerous if inhaled as well, this is of concern especially when we are taking a nice hot shower when vapors are released into the steam. Symptoms related to chloramine go beyond dermatological issues. Chloramine can also induce respiratory problems, digestive tract problems and can aggravate problems concerning the immune system. I can go on and on about the dangers of chloramine but I wont and if you guys want more information about chloramine in our waters refer to chloramine.org. The chloramine website has a lot of useful information on chloramine, symptoms, dangers, public policy, etc... Fortunately, there are other people in our community that are concerned about chloramine in out water, there is a non-profit organization that's trying to change public policy so that chloramine will be tested and taken out of our water. The name of this organization is Citizens Concerned About Chloramine (CCAC). So i recently wrote to them and I have included there response to my letter. I was hoping you guys can also help me as well as yourselves by writing to our congressman Mike Honda. So please if any of you guys are experiencing symptoms from chloramine write to congressman Mike Honda. My legs and I will greatly appreciate any assistance or support you guys can provide. To those of you guys who actually read my post thanks for taking the time to read it!
Hi Sukhdeep,
Thanks for contacting us. Unfortunately, I have to tell you that there are no filters that will work in the shower. There are some sink filters that will remove most of the chloramine for a while, but the people we are hearing from say that the filters must be changed before their recommended replacement date and some people even abandon the filter as not worth the expense. The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) has a website that lists filters they have tested, so you can look there to see if there is a filter that would work for you.
For your legs, there are a couple of things to try. First is to rinse them with bottled spring water after you shave. This will rinse off the chloramine residue. Another thing is to dry off really good to get as much chloramine off as possible, then use 'Aveeno Baby' fragrance free Daily Moisture Lotion. It comes in a big tube ans can be found in the baby isle of the supermarket.
You mention that you are considering moving. Most of us have thought about that too, but to where? The EPA , who mandated the reduction of certain disinfection byproducts (DBPs) of chlorine, has given water districts several more years to lower their DBPs. Therefore we don't know which areas will be switching to chloramine in the next few years.
Something positive you can do is to write a letter to your local newspaper, telling your story and referring readers with similar symptoms to our website. Next, please write to your California Assembly member Alberto Torrico, 20th Assembly District, 39510 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite 280, Fremont, CA 94538, Federal Congressman Mike Honda, 1999 South Bascom Ave., Suite 815, Campbell, CA 95008, and to our state senators; Barbara Boxer, 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111, and Dianne Feinstein, One Post St., Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104.
The only way to be free from your symptoms is to convince our lawmakers to remove chloramine from our water and replace it with a tested alternative. Citizens Concerned About Chloramine (CCAC)has recently met with Congressman Honda, so a letter to him would be especially effective.
If you would like more information, you can call our president, Denise Johnson-Kula or send me your phone number and she will call you.
Thank you for your support.
Take Care,
Linda Corwin, Vice President, CCAC
Monday, October 29, 2007
Can Milpitas Water Kill you???
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8 comments:
I found this while researching... very interesting:
Q: If chloramine is not a cause of skin irritation symptoms reported by people, what other reasons might explain why some people experience fewer symptoms when they shower or bathe with water that has not been chloraminated?
A: When people reduce the frequency or change the location that they bathe, or when they bathe using bottled water, they are not just changing the quality of the water they are using. They are also changing many other things that may have been responsible for symptoms that they may believe were related only to the water. For example, the
temperature of the water may be different, the types of cleaning products that are used in each location may differ, the types of soaps and lotions that the person is using may have changed, the length of time spent in the shower
or bath may have been reduced, or other environmental allergens that were present in one location may not be present in the other. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends reducing the duration, temperature and frequency of baths and showers to help people who experience dry skin, itchiness, and other problems with their skin (American Academy of Dermatology, 2006).
law suit??????
Good job bidu, i dont like the shave i get in milpitas one bit!
In response to Sats comment I am 110% sure its the chloramine in the water because my symptoms started right after chloramine was added to the water in 2004. I have seen a doctor as well but they swear its my products or just dry skin but thats not the case because I have used the same products for the past 12 years! when I use the same products in Davis I dont get an itch but when I shave in milpitas or san francisco i have the itch. the best shave ever was in reno...I want to move to reno now!!!
oh yeah and thanks guys for reading my long ass post I really appreciate it.
Hmmm.... I never experienced itchiness in Milpitas nor anywhere else.
my ass itches ....
dont shave your ass then it wont itch trust me.....
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