SCOTTISH Water is changing the process is uses to ‘treat’ water in South Ayrshire.

Chloramination is used to ensure water is safe to drink and contains no bacteria or other harmful substances. It uses uses smaller amounts of chlorine combined with small quantities of ammonia to produce chloramine.

Kidney Dialysis patients will need to take special precautions as will fish and aquatic pet owners.

Chloramine is only directly harmful to kidney dialysis patients if it directly enters the bloodstream. In kidney dialysis, water comes into contact with blood, so it is essential the water should not contain any extra cleansing agents.

Those with their own private home dialysis machines or anyone who would like more advice should contact their doctor or NHS Board for advice. 

Fish and aquatic pet owners will already be aware that chlorine is harmful to their pet and preparations to neutralise chlorine are already in place.

Chloramines can be similarly harmful but can be neatralised by water conditioning agents available from a pet shop. Chlorine test kits are available for owners of pond fish. 

Chloramination is already used throughout the UK and has been approved by the Scottish Government. The water is safe to use for bathing, cooking, drinking and other everyday use.

It can be used by children, pregnant women, those with kidney ailments, on low-sodium diets and diabetes.

If anyone has any doubts they should contact their doctor.