How to Remove Chlorine From Water

By Rehan Iqbal

Chlorine and chloramine are used to treat tap water. While this practice is necessary to ensure our safety, it leaves water with an unpleasant taste and odor. There are also several health risks associated with high levels of chlorine in the water we use for drinking and cooking.

Given that chlorine is not the best for drinking water; the question many are asking is how to remove chlorine from water?

Why is There Chlorine in Our Water?

In the early 20th century, scientists discovered that small amounts of chlorine will kill most bacteria and pathogens in water. At the time, diseases like cholera were a plague in cities around the world. Chlorine was seen as an obvious solution to a real problem.

Later, chloramine was substituted for regular chlorine by some water supply utilities. This is a combination of ammonia and free chlorine. The benefit of using chloramine vs chlorine is an improved taste and odor. However, the health implications of chloramide are similar to chlorine.

In many cases, excessive amounts of chlorine are used to sanitize municipal water. We can smell it the moment we open a faucet. For certain health conditions this can have a negative effect.

The recommended dosage for water treatment is 5mg of chlorine per liter. For long distance supply, water treatment facilities may choose to increase the amount of chlorine used.

Why Should You Remove Chlorine From Water?

While chlorinated water, if correctly monitored, is generally safe for human consumption, there are good reasons to remove chlorine from our water before using it.

Chlorine has a distinctive and unpleasant taste. We can often smell it in the water. Drinking tap water, treated with chlorine, does not taste great. It also affects the taste and smell of beverages, like tea and coffee, as well as food cooked with unfiltered water.
When combined with certain organic matter, byproducts (like THMs and VOCs) are produced. Some of these may promote certain cancers.
High levels of chlorine in drinking water has been linked to fertility issues and can be harmful for pregnant women.
Chlorine in water can be harmful to small pets
Using chlorinated water is not recommended for aquariums and fishponds.

How Do You Remove Chlorine From Your Water?

If you allow water to stand for about 30-minutes, the chlorine will dissipate into the atmosphere. However, this is not the case for chloramide. Even though the water may no longer smell or taste of chlorine, VOCs will still remain in the water after standing.
Boiling water will remove chlorine and kill bacteria, as well as most organic compounds.
A water filter is generally accepted as the most convenient and safest method of removing chlorine from water. Filters, like reverse osmosis, activated carbon, and ultraviolet light will not only remove chlorine, but many other contaminants.
A relatively cheap and easy method of safely removing chlorine from the water we use for drinking and cooking is a water filter pitcher. These filters use activated carbon to remove contaminants, like chlorine from the water.
Water filter pitchers are inexpensive, and the filters are easily replaced. Using the pitcher is a simple matter of filling the reservoir from a faucet and allowing it to stand while the water flows through the filter.
The filter will remove chlorine. It may also remove harmful metals, organic compounds, and other elements that affect the taste and health of the water we drink. While most filters remove chlorine, the benefits will vary depending on the type of filer media that is used.
Before buying a water filtration system for your home, it would be a good idea to consider your options. Read reviews and compare products to ensure you’re getting what you need.

Water Filtration Systems to Remove Chlorine from Water

For large water consumption, pitchers can be wholly unpractical. The small filters used for pitchers do not last very long and need to be replaced more frequently than larger filters. This can become expensive, especially for large families and for use in offices where you require more filtered water.

Countertop Water Filters

A larger, yet still portable, alternative to pitchers are countertop water filters. These are also fairly cheap, though will usually be more expensive than pitchers. The filters are excellent at removing chlorine from the water, as well as most other contaminants.

A countertop top water filter will have a faucet or spigot that provides chlorine-free water on tap whenever needed.

Like a pitcher, a countertop water filter needs to be filled from a faucet and you may have to wait for the water to filter.

Under Sink Water Filters

This is another popular method of removing chlorine from the water in your home. These filters can be quite complex, often using advanced reverse osmosis technology. Multiple stages will ensure complete removal of chlorine and other harmful contaminants.

An under counter water filter is convenient in that it will supply a dedicated faucet. This means that the water is always available. There is no need to fill the filter, as it is connected to the main water supply. The filters are quite large and provide chlorine-free water for long periods without the need to replace the filters too often.

Under sink water filters are more expensive than countertop filters and pitchers. They also require installation and need quite a lot of space. These filters are usually installed in a closet below the sink.

Whole House Water Filters

Considered the ultimate in home water filtration, whole house water filtration systems will remove chlorine from the water at the point of entry. This means that the main water supply is filtered. You can choose to have only the supply to your home connected to the filter. Alternatively, you can also connect the outdoor water supply to the filter.

If you have fishponds in the yard, you probably use a garden hose, connected to an outdoor faucet to fill the pond. In a situation like this, you will want chlorine removed from the water used to fill the pond. It is obviously beneficial to filter the water supplying outdoor water, as it may be hazardous to fish and pets that could drink from the pond.

Whole house water filters generally consist of several stages of water filtration. Reverse osmosis is one option for this type of filter system. Typically, chlorine will be removed using more than filtration stage. Multiple activated carbon filters, combined with other media, guarantee that chlorine, VOCs, and harmful minerals are removed with the greatest efficiency.

The filters are large and can supply a home for very long periods before they need to be replaced.

The main drawback to a whole house water filter is the price. These are the most expensive water filtration systems. The system is large and requires a fair amount of space. Installation will be more complicated than other type of water filters used to remove chlorine.

Summary

There are many benefits to removing chlorine from your water. Apart from improved taste and smell, the water you drink will be healthier. It is also better for your pets.

As a result, water filters have become increasingly popular. They not only remove chlorine but serve as a multi-purpose water purification system.

The type of water filtration system you choose will be based on your requirements and budget. Here’s a summary of the common water filtration systems used to remove chlorine:

Water Filter Pitcher: One of the cheapest ways to remove chlorine and other contaminants from your water. They are portable and can be taken on vacation. Water filter pitchers have limited capacity and short filter life.
Countertop Water Filter: Provides chlorine-free water on tap and does not require permanent installation. Relatively inexpensive. Does not have the same capacity as under counter and whole house water filters. Need to be filled from a faucet.
Under Counter Water Filter: Provides a permanent supply of filtered water to a dedicated faucet. Quite expensive and requires installation. Usually use several stages to remove chlorine, improving the water quality.
Whole House Water Filter: Supplies the entire home with filtered water. Usually has the most stages and will effectively remove chlorine better than any other method. These systems are expensive and require permanent installation.