Chloramine Update by
Citizens Concerned About Chloramine (CCAC)
March 2006, Issue 1

Dear Friends of CCAC,

We are pleased to announce that Assembly Member Ira Ruskin has introduced Assemby Bill AB2402, preliminary legislation to remove chloramine from our water supply. This was the result of the overwhelming response of individuals who expressed their concerns to him. CCAC will be working closely with his staff in regards to the development of the Bill. Thank you to all who made this possible! We will keep you updated!

If you have not done so, please let Assembly Member Ira Ruskin know about your concerns by e-mail, regular mail or by phone.

Email:

Sacramento Address: California State Capital, P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento, CA, 94249-0001. Phone: (916) 319-2021.

Los Altos Address: 5050 El Camino Real, Suite 117, Los Altos, CA 94022. Phone: (650) 691-2121.

Please cc your messages to your District Assembly Members and Senators and to CCAC Vice-President, Linda Corwin, .

Other exciting developments include: 1) the North Coast County Water District 's (NCCWD) letter backing up our claim that there were NO health studies done, 2) the letters received by the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) from the State Department of Health Services (CaDHS) and the San Francisco Utility Commission (SFPUC) also confirming that NO health studies were done. These latest developments open the way to having BAWSCA possibly fund or facilitate the health studies.

In addition, CCAC has released our research paper to a state agency that studies chemicals in the water supply. If this agency conducts the health studies and finds that chloramine causes health effects, such as severe asthma, respiratory problems, etc. this agency could set different standards than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the use of chloramine. They could determine that chloramine will not be used at all in the water supply for the entire state of California.

CCAC has held many of their own free public informational meetings. We have also been invited by different groups to give presentations on the subject of chloramine and its effects on health, the environment, and plumbing. These presentations have been received enthusiastically. They have increased our knowledge about the extent of the health symptoms and other problems caused by chloramine. CCAC has documented over two-hundred people with health effects from the use of their chloraminated water.

If you would like an Informational Meeting presented in your area and have a meeting site available, please contact Denise at (650) 328-0424. This service is presented FREE of charge.

CCAC received a special invitation by the Urban Creeks Council to attend a series of East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) meetings. These meetings dealt with environmental damage to creek habitats as a result of broken water main pipes that flooded creeks and waterways with chloraminated water. Hundreds of fish and frogs died as a result. A successful lawsuit was filed over the broken polymer water mains. EBMUD was required to replace all of the broken water mains with non-polymer pipes.

We hope to work collaboratively with the Urban Creeks Council in the fight against chloramine. We have been invited by the Urban Creeks Council to do an in-depth presentation on chloramine to their group.

CCAC owes our significant progress to a strong core of members and supporters who have actively helped us toward our goals. They have distributed fliers and bulletins. They have written many letters to Bay area newspapers to spread the word about the effects of chloramine, particularly on human health. Their letters detail the harmful skin, respiratory and digestive effects from chloramine. They have reported the hardships endured because of the necessity to avoid using the chloraminated tap water. Others told about fish dying and frogs disappearing as a result of chloramine water runoff in their habitats. Some even documented the costly destruction of their plumbing. Several newspapers wrote articles to address the chloramine issue and even allowed opinion columns. Many people responded to Denise Johnson-Kula's article, "Making great water better?" published by the San Francisco Chronicle on October 9, 2005.

Our supporters continue to attend waterboard meetings to educate the directors on the health issues and hazards of chloramine in our water supply. They have even participated in scheduled meetings with district lawmakers to discuss the issues and to urge them to take legislative action. Ira Ruskin's Bill, AB2402, is a giant step in the right direction and a major accomplishment for CCAC.

CCAC's main goal is to remove chloramine as a water disinfectant from the water supply. Equally as important is to have a major research institute or health agency conduct the studies on the skin, respiratory and digestive effects of chloramine, and to have the cancer studies completed. We are asking for a moratorium on the use of chloramine as a water disinfectant until these health studies are completed. The respiratory effects of chloramine are immediate and life-threatening, as opposed to the threat of trihalomethanes, which requires a lifetime of exposure.

We have made a significant amount of progress in a short period of time, thanks to all of you-our friends, supporters and members!

Our deepest appreciation for your help and support from CCAC!

CCAC Materials: CCAC has a Flier, a CCAC Bulletin, and Chloramine Facts with basic information on chloramine. Also available are chloramine articles, letters, and some research information. These can be requested by calling (650) 328-0424.

CCAC Website: CCAC has a small website with basic information about CCAC, chloramine facts, and informative articles and letters. It can be accessed at www.chloramine.org.

Channel 26 Interview: The Channel 26 Interview, Chloramine Concerns, an interview of CCAC President Denise Johnson-Kula and Vice-President, Linda Corwin, discussing the chloramine issues is available for purchase. Contact Sharron Walker of Pacifica Currents, Pacifica Community Television, Inc., 580 Crespi Drive, Unit E. Pacifica, CA 94044. Video and DVD versions are available.

For Information or to Report Symptoms or Concerns: Call CCAC President, Denise Johnson-Kula at (650) 328-0424. Or e-mail Vice-President, Linda Corwin at .