Why is Chlorine added to water?

Posted on: November 18th, 2013 by admin of AQUATEC

For full article; http://www.purewaterpeople.co.uk/blog/2013/11/chlorine-in-water/

Chlorine in Water

Chlorine has been added to the UK’s water supply for over a hundred years now. This is because chlorine in water is the most effective way of killing bacteria that could do you harm but does this mean that we should have to drink it in our tap water?

Once chlorine has killed the harmful germs in transit to our homes, it offers no further benefits. In fact it tastes and smells bad and is bad for your health and well-being. So should we still consume it, absorb it and suffer from its negative effects? At Aquatec – the Pure Water People we don’t think so and that’s why we remove chlorine from your water supply with our whole house water purification systems. This article explores why we remove chlorine from water:

Why is Chlorine added to Water?

Chlorine is a disinfectant and is added to the UK water supply to kill bacteria and dangerous micro-organisms that have the potential to cause diseases. The chlorine kills these harmful pollutants by damaging their cell structure.

Chlorine is initially added at the water treatment plants and then again at several points across the mains water system so that it continues to disinfect and kill germs. Chlorine should be present in your drinking water somewhere in range of 0.3 to 0.5mg of chlorine per litre of water. More than this and your water will be harmful and any less and there is a chance that you are not adequately protected from harmful bacteria. This is why it is essential that chlorine levels are closely monitored.

But isn’t chlorine toxic?

The answer is yes. A Loughborough University paper on Chlorination (read here) states:

“All forms of chlorine are harmful to health — avoid skin contact and do not inhale the fumes.”

However, water suppliers only use chlorine in small amounts that are deemed to be safe. This does not mean that overtime with continued exposure there are not serious issues resulting from chlorine in your household water.

Issues with Chlorine in Water

Chlorine protects us from waterborne diseases so what are the issues with it? Well, there are several disadvantages of consuming water that has been treated with chlorine as well as more serious issues. These are the main ones:

• THMS – Chlorine added to water reacts with naturally-occurring organic matter (like leaves) to form toxins called trihalomethanes (THMs). When we consume water treated with chlorine, these THMs make their way into our bodies. THMs have been linked to cancer.

• Inhalation – When you take a hot shower, the steam that is created contains chlorine which then enters your lungs and in turn your bloodstream. Due to chlorine’s toxicity this is a serious concern. Similarly, if you and your family enjoy a relaxing soak in the bath, there is also the danger that chlorine can be absorbed in this way too.

• Taste – The taste of chlorine in water is highly unpleasant. If you and your family are trying to drink lots of water in order to reap the health benefits then this can really put you off. Just think of how horrible it is when you accidentally swallow some water at the swimming pool?

• Smell – Some people are able to smell chlorine in your water straight from your tap which is again off-putting. The chlorine odour becomes much more noticeable though when it is heated so when you run a bath or take a shower it becomes apparent.

• Skin – Chlorine in water dries out your skin and can make it itchy. When you shower or wash, the heat causes your pores to open and absorb chlorine. The more you are exposed to chlorine the more your skin dries out, this is because chlorine depletes the skin’s natural oils that help keep moisture locked in. This only gets worse over time. If you have sensitive skin, allergies or acne then it can exacerbate the issues.

• Hair – As anyone who swims regularly will know, chlorine leaves your hair dry and damaged. Regular exposure to chlorinated water leads to chlorine-damaged hair which is often dry, porous and feels like straw. It also tends to become frizzy at the ends and tangles much more easily. If you colour or highlight your hair then chlorine can have even more of a negative effect. In direct contrast to chlorinated water, pure water leaves your hair soft and shiny.

• Cancer – There are links between chlorinated water and cancer. Drinking tap water with chlorine in it has been linked to bladder, breast and bowel cancer as well as malignant melanoma. There is debate in the scientific community as to the quality of evidence and more research is definitely required.

• Digestion – Chlorine kills good bacteria that help our bodies as well as bad. This includes the intestinal bacteria that assist with the digestion of food and vitamin production.

• Food Allergies – As reported in the Daily Mail, food allergies in Britain have been on the rise in recent years and there are studies from the United States that suggests that people found with dichlorophenols (a chemical by-product of chlorine) in their urine were up to 80 per cent more likely to have a food allergy. In the UK, chlorine levels are lower than in the States but exposure to dichlorophenol via chlorinated tap water is a development that needs to be considered further, especially for those with food allergies or with young families.