Is Chlorinated Water Safe To Drink? Chlorine Health Facts

Among the various ways of treating water to make it safe for human consumption, chlorination tops the list of the main methodologies used by most treatment plants the world over. The technique of water purification utilizing chlorination has even been made available to domestic users through several products. This brings the question: is chlorinated water safe to drink? Despite its great potential and widespread applications, the chemical might not be completely safe for human health.

Naturally, water can easily get into contact with many possible contaminants, which may, in effect, lead to contamination. For example, these might include organic particles from vegetation or even more dangerous chemicals. These are often not removed by chlorination. Several techniques have been devised including adsorption. In processes where chlorination is involved, additional water clarification measures are often used. After the water is clarified, an additional measure is often necessary. In small-scale procedures, even boiling can be used. Chlorine is one of the various range of chemicals that can be used for disinfection.

Chlorine is an oxidizing agent that is often imparted in the form of sodium hypochlorite to water bodies. However, the chemical can also be employed in gaseous form, which is seldom used as the result of difficulty associated with its storage. On the contrary, many products are available in a solid form including powdered and tablets. The chemical acts by eliminating the microorganisms in the water such as bacteria and viruses. The use of chlorine has been effectively utilized in the elimination of various hazardous pathogens in areas experiencing outbreaks. One of the main culprits is the Escherichia Coli.  

It is important to be able to identify the presence of excessive chlorine in drinking water. This can help to avoid the acute conditions that can result from too much chlorine. Chlorine in high quantities is not safe to drink.

Different countries and territories may have varying regulations for the recommended quantity of chlorine in the water. CDC recommends a limit of 4mg of chlorine  in every liter of water. Since many chlorine products and bleach are often given as ways of treating water, the amount to be added to prevent overdosing will depend on both the concentration of the chlorine compounds in the product as well as the volume of water to be treated. Hence, it is important to follow the guidelines offered with the product to avoid adverse effects.

Care should also be taken to avoid close contact with the chlorine products either on the skin or even by breathing in the fumes. However, chlorine in drinking water exhibits no adverse effects on the skin.

Despite being an essential ingredient to global world water sanitation, the use of chlorine presents various health challenges. Various short-term side effects are known to result from the excessive use of the disinfectant in a water sample. These include conditions such as diarrhea, abdominal pains, and nausea. However, when consumed in very high concentrations, chlorine use could be dangerous and might even kill an individual.

Even when used in the most appropriate concentrations, chlorine might not be particularly safe in the long term. Chlorine products must be only used to treat water that is free of organic compounds. However, with the many products available to most households and the scarcity of water in remote regions, most people might not heed this. Chlorine reacts with the organic compounds to form trihalomethanes.

These compounds are responsible for various negative effects including cancers, asthma, and heart disease among others.

There are quite a several reasons why one would want to remove chlorine from water based on the drawbacks of the chemical. However, one of the most apparent reasons to justify such is the presence of high concentrations of the chemical in drinking water. This is a situation that is commonly experienced in many households when the tap water exhibits a strong “chlorine smell”. Excess chlorine is often added to water in treatment plants to increase the effect of disinfection as the water traverses the distribution systems. This means that the homes located near the plant will naturally experience high levels of chlorine in their water supply as compared to the consumers that are miles away. Furthermore, lower temperatures mean that water stays chlorinated for greater duration as compared to environments characterized by greater temperatures.

One of the easiest methods of eliminating chlorine from water is simply to boil it and allow it to cool. The water should be placed in a container in an open area. This ensures that the highly volatile chlorine compounds evaporate from the water. Chlorine is bound to evaporate when kept in open containers even devoid of the boiling process. However, boiling increases the elimination.

The other efficient means of chlorine removal is the use of filtration systems. One particularly reliable method of chlorine removal from water is the use of activated carbon filtration systems.

• Widely available and in various forms.
• Complete eradication of disease-causing microorganisms.
• Has a residual effect, that keeps on ensuring the safety of water days after initial treatment.
• Relatively cheap and affordable to most households.
• Eliminates odor and imparts taste.

• Chronic use may lead to various health conditions.
• Excess use can be dangerous and can lead to death.
• Can lead to the formation of trihalomethanes which are hazardous to human health.

The use of chlorine is the most affordable wide-scale treatment method, and unless an alternative can serve a similar purpose to the advantages offered by chlorine, consumers will have to adapt. The answer to the question; is chlorinated water safe to drink is yes, if used in low quantities. Hence, consumers must take measures aimed at minimizing the risk of the hazardous effect of chlorine. If available, healthier alternative measures should be adopted such as connecting the tap water to water distillation units. 

The practice of undertaking a simple boiling process or the use of filtration systems to eliminate chlorine is by far the most practical solution. When sanitizing by oneself, chlorine should only be added in the appropriate quantities to water free from any organic material.

Besides having an understanding of the positive effects of chlorine when used in sufficient quantities, it is essential to understand how to remove excess chlorine in drinking water. This will help prevent the different adverse effects that can result in both the short and long terms.