What is a less effective alternative to chlorine as a disinfection method?

Chloramines are considered a less effective alternative to chlorine for disinfection in drinking water systems due to their slower disinfection kinetics and reduced effectiveness against certain pathogens. While chloramines can provide a longer-lasting residual in the distribution system, which helps to control biofilm formation and maintain water quality over distance, they are less effective at inactivating some types of microorganisms, particularly viruses and protozoa, when compared to free chlorine.

Chlorine, particularly in its free form, is a strong oxidizing agent and acts quickly to eliminate pathogens. In contrast, chloramines require longer contact times to achieve similar levels of disinfection, which can lead to challenges in ensuring that all harmful organisms are adequately addressed in the water supply.

It is important to recognize that while chloramines have their advantages, particularly for taste and odor control and preventing disinfection byproducts associated with chlorine, they do not perform as strongly in pathogen inactivation compared to chlorine itself. This results in chloramines being viewed as a less effective disinfection option under certain conditions.