If you notice a chemical, "pool-like" smell or taste when you take a shower or drink tap water, you're not imagining it. Chances are you're experiencing the side effects of chlorine being in your water.
All public water supplies have to add a disinfectant as part of their treatment process, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Why Do Public Water Sources Use Chlorine?
The purpose is to prevent any bacteria, viruses, or parasites from getting into the water supply after it leaves their facility. Have you ever seen a "Boil Alert" announcement on the local news? It's a time when homeowners are recommended to boil their tap water before drinking or cooking with it because there was a known issue in their disinfection process.
Having bacteria in your water isn't necessarily harmful, but it can give you nausea or diarrhea if you consume the contaminated water. So chlorine plays an important role in preventing people from becoming sick after drinking from the tap.
Chlorine is a very stable disinfectant, meaning it lasts a long time. After the water leaves the municipal water treatment plant, it could travel several miles before it reaches your home. The chlorine is a great way to keep the water protected that entire time. In larger cities, they may even step it up to use a disinfectant called chloramine, which is a combination of chlorine and ammonia. Chloramines are even stronger and last longer to handle those massive journeys.
Not All Chlorine Levels Are Created Equal
How much chlorine or chloramine is added into the water really depends on a few different factors:
- The further the water needs to go, the more disinfectant is necessary.
- If the municipality is pulling water from a lake (or other surface water), it's naturally starting with higher levels of bacteria.
- Different areas of the country that are warm and humid need more disinfectant.
- Higher levels may be needed seasonally, like during alae bloom seasons, etc.
You may be thinking, "I live in the city, and my water doesn't smell bad." That's great! You're one of the lucky ones that low amounts of chlorine can get the job done. But there are many other people living with water that makes bath time feel a lot more like swimming lessons— with no way to rinse off the pool water!
Why High Levels of Chlorine Is Irritating (Literally)
So we've learned a disinfectant is important while water is traveling to your house. What is it doing after it enters your home? Well, not surprisingly, a chemical strong enough to kill bacteria has some other strong properties as well.
- Strong Taste & Odor: Not only does chlorine smell like a pool, it also tastes like one too. If your water tastes bad, you're not going to drink it and end up reaching for a soda, juice, or bottled water.
- Dry Skin & Hair: Chlorine can strip the natural oils our body uses to stay moisturized. Dry skin can become itchy and irritated from bathing in chlorine. Not to mention if you spend the time and money to color your hair, the chlorine will strip the pigments leading to premature fading.
- Attacks Seals: Rubber components, like the flapper in a toilet tank, degrade faster when constantly exposed to chlorine, causing leaks and the need for replacement.
Really once the water has reached your home, it's no longer needed as a disinfectant and can cause a lot of hardships to live with every day. But the good news is, you can take matters in your own hands to create the kind of water you'll actually enjoy!
How to Remove Chlorine from Your Water
If you're looking to improve the taste, smell, and overall quality of your water, a properly sized carbon filtration system can make a dramatic difference.
These are installed right where the water comes into your house. The granular activated carbon (GAC) inside absorbs the chlorine quickly and effectively, before the water is used in your shower, appliances, faucets, or toilets. That means you're entire home benefits from one single system.
If you're one of the many areas of the country also dealing with hard water, we also offer a water softener with carbon filter called The Champion.
Public water supplies do not remove the hardness minerals of calcium or magnesium since they are not hazardous to your health. But much like chlorine, hard water can dry out your skin and hair, while damaging your fixtures and appliances. So that makes a softener/filter combo a great 1-2-punch to the biggest issues of municipal water in one system.
If you're not dealing with hardness, Varsity Water has a variety of whole home GAC filters to choose from:
- The Enforcer: Includes advanced programming to predict when you need good water and automatically adjust it's cycles to accommodate
- The Interceptor: Low maintenance filter with on-demand filtration
- The Streamline: A customizable in-line filter that included a GAC cartridge option
Which product is right for you depends on what features are important to you and how much water you use on a regular basis. A consultation with a water treatment professional can help you determine exactly the right fit for you.
Kick Chlorine to the Curb
While chlorine and chloramine play an important part in keeping your water safe, it doesn't mean you have to live with its side effects. With the right system in place, you can enjoy water that's refreshing and nourishing.
If you're look to upgrade your water quality, explore Varsity Water's full lineup of filtration solutions or connect with a local expert to find the right fit for your home.