Understanding Chlorine and Chloramine in Your Drinking Water

When you turn on your tap and fill a glass with water, you might not think about what’s in it beyond H2O. However, most municipal water supplies use disinfectants like chlorine and chloramine to keep water safe from harmful bacteria and pathogens. While these chemicals play a crucial role in public health, they also come with some side effects. Let’s break down what chlorine and chloramine are, how they affect your water, and what you can do about it.

What Are Chlorine and Chloramine?

Chlorine has been used for over a century to disinfect drinking water. It’s highly effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that can cause disease. Chlorine works quickly and evaporates relatively fast, which makes it effective but also means its effects are short-lived.

Chloramine is a combination of chlorine and ammonia. Many water utilities are now using chloramine instead of chlorine because it remains in the water longer, providing more extended protection as the water moves through pipes. Chloramine is more stable and less likely to produce certain disinfection byproducts that chlorine can create.

How Do They Affect Your Drinking Water?

While both chlorine and chloramine help prevent waterborne illnesses, they can also have some unintended effects:

1. Taste and Odor: Chlorine often gives tap water a noticeable chemical taste or smell. Chloramine has a less pungent odor but can still impact water flavor.

2. Skin and Hair Irritation: Some people experience dry skin or brittle hair due to prolonged exposure to chlorinated water.

3. Impact on Plumbing: Chloramine is more corrosive to certain plumbing materials, like rubber and lead pipes, which can cause leaching of metals into the water.

4. Effects on Aquatic Pets: Fish and amphibians are particularly sensitive to both chlorine and chloramine, so untreated tap water can be deadly for aquarium life.

   
   

How to Remove Chlorine and Chloramine from Your Water

If you’re concerned about these chemicals in your drinking water, there are several ways to reduce or eliminate them:

• Carbon Filters: Activated carbon filters, like those in many pitcher filters and under-sink systems, are effective at removing chlorine and can reduce chloramine to some extent.

• Catalytic Carbon Filters: These are specifically designed to break down chloramine and are more effective than standard carbon filters.

• Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems: RO systems can remove chlorine, chloramine, and other contaminants, providing high-quality filtered water.

• Boiling: Boiling water for about 15 minutes can remove chlorine, but it’s less effective for chloramine.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Chlorine and chloramine play an essential role in making sure your water is safe to drink, but their side effects can be inconvenient or even harmful for some people. Understanding how these disinfectants work and knowing how to remove them if necessary empowers you to take control of your water quality.

If you’re curious about what’s in your water, consider getting a water quality test and exploring filtration options that best suit your needs. Clean, safe, and great-tasting water is always worth the effort! 

If you would like to know how you can safely, and effectively reduce the chemicals in your water please visit our website www.myfreedomwater.com or call us directly at (888)842-3373.