Chlorine is often present in tap water as it helps remove germs that cause diseases, including viruses and bacteria. These germs can be extremely hazardous to health if drinking water is not treated properly. Therefore, if you find that your drinking water does have chlorine, it should not be a cause of alarm or surprise.

Both chloramine and chlorine are used to disinfect water. It is quite possible you might find traces of these in drinking water in most Canadian provinces and U.S. states.

If you are worried about chlorine in drinking water, wish to know more about why chlorine is added, and whether boiling water removes chlorine, you are in the right spot. Keep reading to learn more below!

What Is Chloramine And Chlorine?

Chlorine and chloramine are chemicals that have a variety of uses. They are not only used for cleaning and disinfecting water, they have a variety of other uses as well. Saltwater and the Earth's crust are formed due to different chlorine forms. Chlorine, similar to most other elements, exists in all states of matter. These 3 states include:

As a solid in naturally found compounds (example: rock salt)
As a liquid, when it is cooled
As a gas at room temperature

Chloramine is a chlorine compound formed when ammonia and chlorine are combined. Chloramine is more often used as a disinfection agent as compared to chlorine. This switch was made to rule out the negative effects of chlorination.

Why Is Chlorine Used To Treat Drinking Water?

The first thing that will come to mind when you think about chlorine in water is a swimming pool. Chlorine is a disinfectant that is used in several water treatment facilities to ensure cleanliness, safety, and hygiene.

Each house has a different distance from water-supply plants, so it can be tricky to guarantee the amount of chlorine each house receives. This is often not equal as chlorine evaporates after breaking down during longer transmissions. The chlorine levels, therefore, also need to be kept sufficient so water can stay disinfected by the time it reaches each house, especially those that are further away from the water plant.

The greatest advancement in 20th-century public health is using chlorine to treat and disinfect drinking water. This step was taken as disinfected water consumption showed that water-borne illnesses reduced drastically among the population.

Chloramine, formed by mixing chlorine and ammonia gas, also gained popularity as it not only helps preserve water but also kills off all germs. The bad news is that both chloramine and chlorine can be quite harmful and can have detrimental health effects if there is excess of these present in water.

Are Chloramine And Chlorine Safe For Consumption?

Chlorine is a cheap disinfecting agent that keeps consumers safe from water-borne diseases. Chloramine is often used instead of chlorine, but are they safe to drink?

Even though chlorine can prevent hazardous germs from thriving in drinking water, too much chlorine can cause adverse health effects. A high amount of chlorine and its by-products can lead to a significant issue in people with specific medical conditions. Detrimental health effects include:

Showering with water that contains high amounts of chlorine can lead to itchiness, dry hair, dry skin, psoriasis, unpleasant skin rashes, and even eczema flare-ups.
Inhaling chlorine while showering can lead to an asthmatic attack in asthma patients.
Chlorine by-products are carcinogenic, which increases the risk of breast cancer and bladder cancer.
Chlorine water can harm the nervous system of children and babies.
Chlorine water can lead to reproductive issues and even miscarriages.

What Amount Of Chlorine In Drinking Water Is Safe For Consumption?

Chlorine as 4 ppm (parts per million) in water is safe for consumers. A lot of research is still being conducted to establish whether even this small amount is safe and whether it can impact human well-being and health.

A recent study suggested that chlorine water has dangerous carcinogens that cause cancer. CDC and other institutions have, however, assured the public that consumption of small amounts of chloramine and chlorine is relatively safe.

7 Ways To Remove Chlorine And Chloramine From Tap Water

The good news is that there are 6 foolproof water treatment methods you can use to remove chlorine from water. Some are cheaper, but some are more expensive. Let's look at each of these techniques below:

Boiling Water

Boiling drinking water before consumption is a simple and effective way to remove all chlorine content for safety and health purposes. You need to boil water for 15 to 20 minutes to remove chlorine. However, boiling water will leave chloramine in much longer than simple aeration.

While boiling water is an excellent cheap method to eliminate viruses and bacteria, this method is not 100% reliable. Hazardous heavy metals may still be left behind, and no matter how long you boil water before consumption, you will be unable to get rid of them.

2. Point-Of- Use Filtration

Point-of-use filtration is an affordable and convenient solution for removing chlorine from tap water. These filters, attached to taps or shower heads, effectively eliminate chlorine and enhance water quality for drinking and bathing. They are cost-effective compared to whole-home systems and require no major plumbing modifications. Point-of-use filters utilize technologies like redox to remove chlorine, improving taste and odor. Some advanced filters can address additional contaminants. These systems offer localized filtration, providing immediate access to clean water for drinking and cooking. Shower head filters reduce chlorine exposure during bathing, preventing skin and hair issues. In conclusion, point-of-use filtration provides an affordable and user-friendly option to remove chlorine from tap water.

3. RO System

The RO (Reverse Osmosis) system is another suitable option for those that wish to remove chlorine from water in a cost-effective manner. The carbon filter stage effectively removes chlorine during the pre-filter and post-filter stages. Filters in an RO System will also eliminate other contaminants like:

Lead
Arsenic
Nitrates
Fluoride
Pesticides
4. Evaporation

This is another simple technique used to eliminate chlorine from water. Since chlorine is very volatile, it will evaporate if you let the water stand long enough. You do not need to spend any money on removing it this way.

However, this process takes much longer but is just as effective as filtration. You can do a strip test to ensure the chlorine has evaporated after you've left the water standing long enough.

5. Distillation

This one is probably the least popular method as it has a slow output and requires a high amount of energy. This means it is also quite expensive. Distillation is the process of boiling water and then condensing the evaporated vapor to remove chlorine. A distillation plant is required for this technique.

6. UV Light

UV (Ultra Violet) light triggers various chemical processes that help remove chlorine. A UV bulb has a wavelength range between 180 to 400 nanometers. The optimal wavelength for chlorine removal lies between 180 to 200 nanometers.

However, not many people use a UV bulb to remove chlorine. This is because a UV lamp helps break down organic pollutants but cannot remove them. It also fails to work more effectively on dissolved metals and other chemicals.

7. Whole House Filtration System

A whole house filtration system reduces chlorine smell when cooking, drinking, showering, and getting laundry done. Controlling the amount of chlorine in the entire house water supply can be achieved using a high-quality whole-house filtration system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Water Softeners Be Used To Remove Chlorine?

No. Water softeners cannot remove chlorine. They must be paired with a water filtration system to produce any chlorine-removing effect.

How Long Does The Evaporation Technique Take To Remove Chlorine?

Water must be left standing between 1 and 5 days to allow chlorine to evaporate. The duration depends on the amount of chlorine in the water. You can ensure chlorine removal using a test strip.

How To Remove Chlorine Molecules From Water Naturally?

Chlorine can be removed naturally by leaving the water in open air. This process can be sped up by adding air bubbles to tap water. Use an air stone to provide aeration for 12 to 24 hours. Alternatively, you can also boil the water for 15 to 20 minutes to speed up the evaporation process.

What Can Be Used To Neutralize Chlorinated Water?

Chlorinated water can be neutralized using vitamin C. Vitamin C compounds, sodium ascorbate, and ascorbic acid can help neutralize chlorine in a harmless manner as these chemicals are not hazardous. Compared to sulfur compounds, vitamin C does not reduce the amount of oxygen dissolved in water either.

Vitamin C is also not hazardous to aquatic life, and sodium ascorbate has a neutral pH. This means that the pH balance of the water will also not be destroyed by its addition. Ascorbic acid however, is mildly acidic, and larger concentrations can lower the pH of the water being treated.

Conclusion

Chloramine and chlorine presence in public water supplies is necessary for disinfection. However, an excess of either can cause undesirable health issues and side effects. These negative health effects can be avoided by testing the water before use.

It is necessary to use filtration, evaporation, boiling, distillation, or UV light to remove chlorine compounds if high levels are detected. Some techniques are more effective and cheaper than others, while some are expensive and do not produce desirable results. It is up to you to decide what works best for your own home.

Does Boiling Water Remove Chlorine?