{"id":449,"date":"2025-12-10T19:45:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T19:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/?p=449"},"modified":"2025-12-10T19:45:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T19:45:20","slug":"what-are-disinfection-byproducts-tthms-haa5s-and-how-to-treat-for-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/10\/what-are-disinfection-byproducts-tthms-haa5s-and-how-to-treat-for-them\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Disinfection byproducts, TTHMs, HAA5s, and How to Treat for them?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"185\" src=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-119-1024x185.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-119-1024x185.png 1024w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-119-300x54.png 300w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-119-768x139.png 768w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-119-1536x278.png 1536w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-119.png 1795w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the past couple of months, our team has noticed a big uptick in calls from homeowners who are on <strong>city or municipal water<\/strong>. Many people are reaching out with the same questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cWhat are TTHMs and HAA5s?\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>\u201cIs my drinking water still safe?\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>\u201cShould I be treating my city water at home?\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve recently received a notice from your town or water supplier about <strong>disinfection byproducts<\/strong>, you\u2019re not alone. More communities across New Hampshire and New England are monitoring these compounds closely\u2014and in some cases, reporting elevated levels. Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/trihalomethane.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-451\" style=\"width:175px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/trihalomethane.webp 400w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/trihalomethane-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/trihalomethane-150x150.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Are TTHMs and HAA5s?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>TTHMs (<strong>Total Trihalomethanes<\/strong>) and HAA5s (<strong>Haloacetic Acids<\/strong>) are groups of chemicals formed when chlorine\u2014used to disinfect water\u2014reacts with naturally occurring organic material in the water supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chlorine is essential for killing harmful bacteria, but when it interacts with things like decaying leaves, organic matter, or certain minerals, it can create these byproducts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why towns notify homeowners<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Public water systems are required to test regularly. If a running annual average exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL), the system must notify residents\u2014even if there\u2019s <strong>no immediate health emergency<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Should You Be Worried?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not necessarily\u2014but it\u2019s important to understand the context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Short-term exposure<\/strong> to TTHMs or HAA5s is not expected to cause immediate issues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Long-term exposure over many years<\/strong> <em>may<\/em> increase the risk of certain health effects, including potential impacts to the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For most families, the biggest concern isn\u2019t short-term risk\u2014it\u2019s wanting <strong>peace of mind<\/strong> about the water they\u2019re drinking every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s where point-of-use and whole-home treatment come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why We\u2019re Getting More Calls Lately<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whenever municipal systems report elevated levels\u2014even slightly above standards\u2014it naturally leads people to look for ways to better control the quality of their own water at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Typical concerns we\u2019re hearing include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Taste or odor from increased chlorination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skin or hair irritation from disinfectants<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Desire to remove DBPs (disinfection byproducts) altogether<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Questions about whether their refrigerator filter is enough<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interest in whole-home filtration vs. drinking-water-only solutions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if a town resolves the issue quickly, homeowners are becoming more proactive about protecting their families\u2014and we think that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How City Water Can Be Treated at Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are effective, proven treatment options for reducing or removing chlorine, TTHMs, HAA5s, and other municipal water byproducts. The best approach depends on whether you want to treat <strong>your entire home<\/strong> or just <strong>your drinking water<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NH_Arsenic-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-453\" style=\"width:196px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NH_Arsenic-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NH_Arsenic-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NH_Arsenic-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NH_Arsenic-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NH_Arsenic-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"940\" src=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dover_NH_Lead_Water.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-454\" style=\"width:220px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dover_NH_Lead_Water.png 788w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dover_NH_Lead_Water-251x300.png 251w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dover_NH_Lead_Water-768x916.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 788px) 100vw, 788px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Whole-Home Filtration (Point-of-Entry)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A whole-home carbon filtration system can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Reduce chlorine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduce DBP precursors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve taste and odor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protect plumbing and appliances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This option ensures every tap\u2014including showers\u2014is delivering cleaner, better-smelling water.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"940\" src=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/PFOA_Treatment_New_Hampshire_Water.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-452\" style=\"width:236px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/PFOA_Treatment_New_Hampshire_Water.png 788w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/PFOA_Treatment_New_Hampshire_Water-251x300.png 251w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/PFOA_Treatment_New_Hampshire_Water-768x916.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 788px) 100vw, 788px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Drinking Water Systems (Point-of-Use)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For targeted protection, options include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>High-quality carbon filters<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reverse osmosis systems<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Specialized DBP-reduction cartridges<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These systems remove a broad range of contaminants and typically provide the highest level of purification for water used in cooking and drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Home Treatment Matters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even with a well-run municipal system, water quality can vary due to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Seasonal temperature changes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water age in the distribution lines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Storage tank conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Changes in source water<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adjustments to disinfectant dosing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Home filtration isn\u2019t about replacing your town\u2019s treatment\u2014it\u2019s about adding a <strong>final layer of protection<\/strong> between the water main and your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Have Questions About Your City Water? We Can Help.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve received a notice about TTHMs, HAA5s, or anything related to disinfection byproducts\u2014or if you simply want cleaner, better-tasting water\u2014we\u2019re here to help you understand your options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just give us a call at 603-868-3212 and we\u2019ll walk you through the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"791\" src=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Back-Updated-Review-Card-1024x791.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Back-Updated-Review-Card-1024x791.png 1024w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Back-Updated-Review-Card-300x232.png 300w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Back-Updated-Review-Card-768x593.png 768w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Back-Updated-Review-Card-1536x1187.png 1536w, https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Back-Updated-Review-Card.png 1650w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the past couple of months, our team has noticed a big uptick in calls from homeowners who are on city or municipal water. Many people are reaching out with the same questions: If you\u2019ve recently received a notice from your town or water supplier about disinfection byproducts, you\u2019re not alone. More communities across New [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[44,43,56,55,54,34],"tags":[60,45,59,58,57,19],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=449"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":456,"href":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449\/revisions\/456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancepumpandfilter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}