Chlorine, chloramine, and TDS

[iwishtofish]

Does anyone know if chlorine and chloramine register on a TDS meter if they are in water?

Or is a test kit the only way to know if they were filtered out of 0 tds water successfully?

[AZDesertRat]

A low level chlorine tester is best. If chlorine and or chloramines have made it through your treatment process then you have other problems for sure. A RO membrane cannot tolerate chlorine so if you detect it your membrane has been ruined for sure. You will have gobs of TDS.

[Scudd]

Filter Guys carry a $15.00 test kit

[AZDesertRat]

http://www.spectrapure.com/St_chlorine_test_kit.htm

[iwishtofish]

Thanks Scudd and AZDesertRat! I'll order a test kit tonight.

Will chloramine show up on a chlorine test kit?

[AZDesertRat]

The chlorine portion will. Chloramines are formed by combining chlorine and ammonia. Why the interest in testing for them? A god carbon block will remove any traces of chlorine and the combination of a good RO membrane and DI resin takes care of any traces of ammonia which is akin to nitrate.

[iwishtofish]

AZDesertRat, I bought a bargain RO/DI unit and, even though I am getting zero TDS, I question the quality of the filters. Additionally, they seem to send chlorine (or chloramine) through my city water system in bursts, as sometimes I can smell it much more strongly than at other times.

Just a little paranoid, I guess, since I tried to save some money. If chlorine or chloramine was making it to my RO membrane, how long would it take to ruin it and raise my TDS?

[AZDesertRat]

Almost immediately. For starters I would replace the prefilter and carbon block with a 0.5 micron prefilter and a 0.5 or 0.6 micron Matrix Chlorine Guzzler carbon block.
Where are you measuring 0 TDS? If its after the DI then the DI may be working overtime to make up for a bad membrane. Measure the TDS in the tap water and the RO only before DI, those are the two figures that tell the story. Any DI SHOULD deliver 0 TDS if it is working correctly even with a poor membrane, at least for a short time. Do you know for sure if your water ytility uses chloramines? It is becoming more common but most still do not feed ammonia.

[iwishtofish]

Thank you again for the advice and information, AZDesertRat.

I am measuring TDS after the DI. I will disconnect the input hose to the DI and take a sample straight from the RO.

I am hoping the water doesn't contain chloramines, but I am having trouble finding the number to call to find out.

I've made about 14 gallons of water so far and TDS is still zero. I guess I'll find out soon if the DI has done all the work!