Did you know there is chlorine in your tap water?

Cities all over the country add chlorine to household water sources to ensure the water you drink is free from disease-causing viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms. While it is a necessary step to keeping your water supply safe, finding out what you are drinking can still feel somewhat alarming. The EPA has determined that small amounts of chlorine are perfectly safe to consume, but whether or not you choose to consume it is entirely up to you.

So, let’s talk about chlorine, what it does, how it affects you, and what you can do about it. A simple home water test will tell you everything you need to know about the water in your home and help you decide if you need a water treatment system to remove chlorine and other contaminants.

What is Chlorine?

Contrary to what you might imagine when you think about chlorine, it is actually a highly reactive gas. This reactivity means that chlorine rarely exists in its gas form. Instead, it likes to bond with other elements to form salts. Just about all natural salt contains chlorine. Table salt is, in fact, the element sodium chloride–a combination of sodium and chlorine.

Wildly abundant, chlorine is a great disinfectant, which is why you probably associate it with swimming pools. It does a phenomenal job of ensuring you and 20 of your best friends aren’t swimming in bacteria when you visit your local pool. It plays an integral role in keeping swimming pools and water supplies across the world free from bacteria, germs, and viruses that can make people sick.

Why is Chlorine in Your Water?

Municipalities add chlorine to the water to keep you safe. Not only does it kill off any microorganisms living in drinking water, but it also prevents the growth of bacteria and algae. The high chlorine levels in pool water make it unfit for drinking and unappealing. However, chlorine levels in the water supply are much lower. While people love the idea of keeping chemicals out of their water, it really is a necessary part of supplying millions of people with safe and clean water.

The good news for anyone who would prefer to avoid drinking the chlorine in their water, a home water treatment system allows you to remove it before you or your family ever drink it.

How Safe is Chlorine?

The EPA has determined that levels less than four parts per million are safe for people to consume. Years of testing and studying water quality allow them to feel confident about humans drinking these small amounts.

When the alternative is transmitting diseases like dysentery and typhoid via water supplies, the minor risks involved with chlorine are a far better choice. In higher quantities, though, chlorine can pose some significant health risks. So, it is crucial for chlorine levels to stay within a safe range.

How Do You Test For It?

Because chlorine does pose health risks in high quantities, it’s never a bad idea to test for chlorine levels if you have any concerns. You can easily determine the amount of chlorine in your water and have peace of mind knowing how safe your water is for your family.

Testing for chlorine is quick and easy. You can either do it yourself or hire a professional.

• Test strips allow you to find out chlorine levels within minutes. You simply dip the test strip in a sample of your tap water. It will indicate how much chlorine is in your water.
• Tablets can also be used to determine how much chlorine is in your water. Drop a tablet in a cup of your drinking water, and the color it turns will tell you how much chlorine is present.
• Professional testing is an excellent option for people interested in taking steps to eliminate chlorine in their water. An experienced water specialist will come to your home and use advanced testing techniques to determine more precise measurements of the chlorine in your water. They will then also be able to recommend the perfect solution for you if you desire to filter the chlorine out.

How Do You Eliminate It?

While research tells us that chlorine in your drinking water is safe, many people prefer to eliminate chlorine anyway, and home water treatment makes it easy.

It can be as simple as installing a reverse osmosis system in your home. With the popularity of reverse osmosis systems, removing the chlorine is just one more reason to take the leap and have one installed.

Reverse osmosis systems force your water through a semi-permeable membrane that will strip chemical compounds out of your drinking water, chlorine included. This water treatment option will leave your water clean of countless other chemical compounds, as well as potential bacteria and viruses. As an added bonus, your water will taste incredible.

All it takes is a call to your local water filtration company, and you can set up a consultation with a water expert. They will come to your home, test your water, and guide you in choosing the ideal water filtration solution for your home. The technician will schedule a time to come back and have a technician install your new reverse osmosis system, and within a few hours, you won’t have to think about the chlorine (or anything else) in your water anymore.

Infographic

Chlorine can be harmful at high levels, so it’s important to test your water if you have concerns. Testing is quick and can be done by yourself or a professional. Read on for more in the infographic.