Worried about the chlorine in your tap water? That’s perfectly understandable, as too much chlorine in your water can pose serious health risks.
Chlorine is widely used to disinfect our drinking water. Municipal water suppliers use chlorine or chloramines (chlorine with ammonia) to treat drinking water, staying within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA)limit of 4 parts per million (ppm).
However, chlorine can give water a bleach-like smell that most people find unpleasant.
So, what’s the best way to remove chlorine from water?
- Reverse osmosis filtration, which can reduce chlorine by up to 99%.
- Boiling water for 15 – 20 minutes is a quick way to dechlorinate tap water.
- Installing a water filter that removes chlorine.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through six effective methods to dechlorinate your water, ensuring it’s fresh and safe for your family.
How to Remove Chlorine From Water (Dechlorination)
1. Remove Chlorine with Reverse Osmosis Filtration
Reverse osmosis is a common method to remove up to 99% of chlorine in water.
Unlike water distillers, which use heat, reverse osmosis systems use pressure to push water molecules through a semipermeable membrane (filter), leaving impurities like chlorine behind. The membrane’s tiny pores block chlorine molecules, allowing only clean water to pass through.
One of the main advantages of reverse osmosis is its high efficiency. However, it does require regular maintenance. The filters need to be changed periodically to ensure the system remains effective and doesn’t become a breeding ground for bacteria.
While reverse osmosis systems can be a bit pricey, they offer a reliable way to ensure your water is free from chlorine and other contaminants.
If you choose to remove chlorine via reverse osmosis, we recommend the AquaTRU reverse osmosis system for its proven performance and reliability.
2. Use Water Distillers (Distillation) to Remove Chlorine
Distillation is a straightforward and practical way to eliminate chlorine from water. A water distiller works by heating the water until it turns into vapor, then condensing it back into liquid form, leaving impurities behind. This process can eliminate up to 97% of chlorine.
Water distillers come in various sizes, from small countertop models to large commercial units. They can be purchased online or in-store at a variety of price points depending on the size of the distiller.
Adding an activated carbon filter before the water reaches the distiller can boost the chlorine removal efficiency to about 99%.
As an added benefit, water distillers can also remove other unwanted additives that can affect the water’s taste and smell, such as:
- Fluoride
- Bromine
- Astatine
- Iodine ions
However, the distillation process can be very slow and not ideal for treating large volumes of water. For most households, using a reverse osmosis system might be a more convenient option.
If you prefer to remove chlorine via distillation, we recommend the Megahome Countertop Distiller. It’s efficient and easy to use, making it a soling choice for chlorine removal.
3. Boil the Water
Boiling water is common practice in areas where water treatment facilities go offline or if circumstances allow for contaminants to build to dangerous levels. It’s sometimes called a “boil order” in cases when it’s mandated by the government.
Boiling is an easy, low-cost option to quickly reduce chlorine levels in your water. It’s especially useful in emergencies or when you don’t have access to other filtration methods.
By boiling your tap water for at least 15 minutes, you can eliminate chlorine as it evaporates with the water vapor.
Removing chlorine via boiling can be time-consuming if you need large quantities of water, but it requires no additional equipment other than a stovetop and pot. Additionally, you’ll need to let the water cool before using it for drinking or cooking.
4. Use a UV Light Purifier
High-intensity UV light can break down chlorine through a photochemical reaction, turning it into harmless byproducts. For this process to work, the UV light should have a wavelength between 180 and 400 nm.
This method works best with relatively clear water since UV light needs to penetrate the water to be effective. While it won’t filter out other impurities, a UV light purifier is a great addition to your water treatment system for dechlorination.
If you’re looking for an efficient and easy-to-use solution, a UV light purifier might be the right choice for your home.
5. Use Activated Carbon Filters to Remove Chlorine
Activated carbon filters are excellent at removing chlorine from water. These filters work by absorbing chlorine onto the surface of the activated carbon, effectively reducing chlorine levels and improving the taste and smell of your water.
For the best results, it’s often beneficial to use activated carbon filters in combination with other treatment methods, like reverse osmosis, distillation, or UV light. This dual approach ensures thorough purification and enhanced water quality.
When choosing an activated carbon filter, look for one with an NSF 42 certification. This symbol indicates that the filter can handle chloride levels between 3 and 0.5 ppm, which is the usual chlorine level for tap water in the U.S.
6. Let the Water Evaporate
By leaving your tap water in an open container for 1 to 5 days, the chlorine will naturally dissipate into the air. This process mimics the evaporation that occurs when water is boiled, but it takes much longer.
While this method doesn’t remove all the chlorine, it can significantly reduce its presence without any special equipment. It’s a good option if you have time to let the water sit and don’t need large quantities immediately.
How to Test Chlorine Levels in Your Water
1. Use Pool Test Kits
Pool test kits are a handy tool for checking chlorine levels in your water. Pool owners often use these kits to test the water and ensure the levels of added chlorine are balanced.
The kits are available in different versions, but most use a liquid chemical called orthotolidine (OTO). This chemical reacts with chlorine by turning the water bright yellow, making it a great indicator.
The testing is as simple as filling the tube with water from the source, adding the OTO, and observing the color change. Keep in mind that the amount of chlorine will impact how yellow the water turns after the OTO is added.
If chlorine is present in small amounts, the water will likely turn translucent or pale yellow. The water will only turn dark yellow if the chlorine level is high.
Test strip-style kits are also available. Just dip a strip into your water, and it will change its color to indicate the chlorine concentration in the sample.
Pool test kits can be purchased online, through pool supply stores, or at home improvement stores.
2. Use Color Wheel Test Kit
Color wheel test kits are another accurate method of measuring chlorine levels. This highly portable and affordable option uses a reagent in the form of an organic compound diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) solution.
Whether in a powder or tablet form, when the DPD solution is added to water, it reacts to chlorine and other disinfectants and changes the color of the water to pink.
When you purchase this test kit, it comes with a color wheel that you can use to compare to your water. That way, you’ll be able to determine the chlorine concentration in the water depending on which color your water turns to.
3. Digital Colorimeters
The most accurate testing method available is a digital colorimeter. It’s a standard testing method by scientists working in developing countries to test and measure free chlorine in their drinking water.
Similar to color wheel test kits, you place DPD tablets or powder in a vial of sample water. The DPD reacts to the free chlorine in the water and causes the water to turn pink.
You can then insert the vial into the digital colorimeter, which determines the intensity of the color change by emitting a wavelength of light and measuring it.
The device identifies the color intensity and provides a range of chlorine concentrations. This method is the most accurate and delivers fast results without the need for laboratory equipment.
The only downside is that this test kit is expensive compared to other methods. But, if you’re serious about monitoring your water quality, a digital colorimeter is a worthwhile investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chlorine is added to residential water during the water treatment process as a disinfectant to prevent germs from contaminating the water.
Chlorine can also impede or prevent the growth of harmful viruses, bacteria, and microorganisms such as salmonella or norovirus.
Drinking water with small amounts of chlorine has been proven safe in otherwise healthy adults over a long period.
However, if there’s excessive chlorine in your water or the person suffers from another illness, they can experience adverse health effects that are unpleasant and even dangerous.
Common symptoms include upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea from drinking chlorinated water and dry skin from using it to bathe.
The CDC states that it’s safe to have up to 4 parts per million (ppm) of chlorine in your water.
Several things can tip you off that your drinking water has abnormally high chlorine levels, but the most obvious ones are the smell, taste, and appearance of your water.
Water with high levels of chlorine can smell like a swimming pool. This is because chlorine is added to swimming pools to help reduce the risk of microorganisms growing. Others report smelling bleach for a similar reason. It may also have an unusual or unpleasant taste.
Highly chlorinated water also appears discolored. The water may appear hazy, rusty-colored, or have an unappealing greenish or yellow hue.
The cheapest way to remove chlorine from your drinking water is by boiling the water or purchasing a standalone water distiller (distillation method).
Baking soda can effectively remove chlorine residue from your hair but cannot directly reduce chlorine levels in water.
It can assist other chemical processes, however. It increases alkalinity when added to water, allowing other chemical neutralizers to react with the dissolved chlorine.
Yes, letting water sit removes chlorine over time. If left in an open container at room temperature, chlorine becomes gaseous and escapes with the water vapor.
