To disinfect drinking water, many municipal water systems use chlorine and chloramine.
However, chlorine and chloramine can cause health issues. Chlorine and chloramine can also leach toxic metals like lead into drinking water and corrode pipes.
Yes, water filters can remove chlorine. Chlorine reduction is possible with many water filters. Most activated carbon filters remove over 99% chlorine. Reverse osmosis systems use carbon block filters to remove 98% of chlorine.
Most reverse osmosis systems remove 97.3% of chlorine. Reverse osmosis systems remove impurities with pressure, not heat. Large chlorine molecules are flushed out by water passing through a semi-permeable membrane.
Not all water filters remove chlorine. A company’s water filters greatly reduce contaminants.
As a water filter technician, I’ve seen activated carbon filters remove chlorine from drinking water. My customers choose activated carbon filters to remove chlorine and improve the water’s taste. To remove chlorine and other contaminants, I recommend NSF International-certified water filters.
Activated carbon
Chemically reacting activated carbon removes chlorine from water. Pesticides, gasoline, and trihalomethanes are also absorbed.
Activated carbon is made from dense carbonaceous material that has been heated to make it extremely porous.
Water filtration is ideal for activated carbon’s porous structure. One square inch of activated carbon contains 100 acres of surface area.
Adsorption is more effective than mechanical filtration because contaminants stick to carbon like Velcro instead of swimming through water.
PFOS used to make firefighting foam and stain repellents is absorbed by activated carbon. Unfortunately, PFOS can remain in water sources for decades after use, posing health and environmental risks.
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis is one of the best water purification methods. It removes impurities by forcing water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane from a high-concentration area to a low-concentration area.
Reverse osmosis systems are widely used in homes to provide clean drinking water. They also desalinate ocean water and are used in other industries.
A reverse osmosis system starts with a sediment filter to remove large particles from water. It then passes through carbon filters to remove chlorine.
Then, a semi-permeable membrane filters out impurities. Finally, it’s stored in a pressurized tank until use.
Ultraviolet light
Water filters remove contaminants before selling them to consumers. Unfortunately, many of these impurities can harm your health, particularly children and seniors, who are more sensitive to water chemicals.
UV (ultraviolet) light disinfection can kill bacteria, viruses, cryptosporidium, and giardia in water. The water’s taste, odor, and pH are unaffected by this non-chemical treatment.
UV light reduces free chlorine in drinking water, according to research. However, scrubber IPA concentration and makeup water quality can reduce its efficiency.
UV disinfects water well, but chlorine is more effective. It is a powerful and versatile disinfectant that kills all known spoilage microorganisms quickly and without leaving residue.
Boiling
Boiling removes chlorine from water. Boiling the solution kills microorganisms like bacteria and viruses.
It also removes dissolved gases like chlorine released into the air, though this method is only sometimes successful.
Chlorine can be removed from water by distillation, reverse osmosis, or chemical treatments. These methods are more expensive than evaporation, but they offer health benefits for those who want to stay healthy.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says small amounts of chlorine and chloramine in drinking water are safe for most people. However, those sensitive to chlorine should avoid it. Public water supplies are disinfected with chlorine and chloramine, which have been shown to reduce waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid fever. They’re added to water to make it safe for consumption and prevent disease spread.
