Most of us know that water in swimming pools contains chlorine as water treatment. But do you know chlorine is also added to water coming to your homes?
I am sure you would have notice bleach or chlorine smell in the water a few times. It’s probably because of the chlorination of water. Chlorination is the process of adding chlorine to water during the water treatment process.
After all, the EPA (Environment Protection Agency) has made it mandatory to add chlorine to water before traveling to homes.
But why? In this article, we will provide you the answer to why water smell like chlorine. Let’s get started.
Why Does My Water Smell Like Chlorine?
You know that chlorine is the reason for the chlorine smell in water that gets added by water treatment plants.
Chlorine has proven to be a disinfectant of water. It helps in killing harmful tiny bacteria, ill-causing pathogens, and other microorganisms. They are so small that it becomes impossible for the filtration system to eliminate them.
Besides harmful microorganisms, it also protects water from dangerous chemicals and substances in the plumbing system, especially if the pipes and taps are old.
However, EPA has set the limit of 4 mg/L on the amount of chlorine in the water. Under this limit, chlorine is usually unnoticeable and harmless. But if chlorine level crosses this limit, then it causes the chlorine smell in the water.
Thankfully, even then, it does not pose any severe threat to human health. So, if your water smells chlorine, you can drink it as it is safe and healthy.
Why Does My Water Smell Like Chlorine Always?
In some areas and localities, the water smells like chlorine every day. There are two possible reasons:
Your house may be very close to water treatment plants. Chlorine smell in travel reduces as it reaches home in outlying areas. So, the closer the home to water treatment plants, the higher the water smells like chlorine.
Another possible reason is that your water supplier adds high chlorine levels in water due to the greater risk of harmful microorganisms in your area.
Why Does My Water Smell Like Chlorine Sometimes?
If your tap water smell like chlorine only sometimes, then the reasons are following:
Shock Chlorination: If sometimes means emergencies times, then water smells like chlorine due to shock chlorination.
Shock Chlorination is the process of adding a high amount of chlorine in both tap and well water during emergencies such as a flood. As after flooding, the number of harmful pathogens and bacteria increases.
It helps in protecting the water in advance from such microorganisms providing you safe water.
Change of Chlorine Level: Generally, water treatment plants add chloramine (combination of chlorine and ammonia) to water throughout the year.
Chloramine constitutes less chlorine; however, when a high amount of containments gets detected, only chlorine gets added instead of chloramine.
It increases the level of chlorine in water, causing a chlorine smell.
What to do if your water smells like chlorine?
Water smelling like chlorine is harmless yet unpleasant to drink. After all, no wants to drink water that tastes or smell like chemical!
It’s best to use water filtration systems to remove the chlorine smell from water. Some of the effective filtration systems in removing chlorine odor are following:
- Undersink Filter
- Shower Filter
- Faucet Filter
- Carbon Cartridge Filter
- Reverse Osmosis
- Chlorine Reduction Carbon Filter System
- Water Pitcher Filter
Besides these, there are other filtration systems such as Refrigerator Filter, Countertop Filter, etc. Install the filtration devices that suit you best!
EndNote
There is nothing to worry about if your water smells like chlorine. It happens very often in many areas.
The most effective way to remove the chlorine smell and other impurities in drinking water is to install a water purification device with an activated carbon filter, RO, and UV purification stages.
After all, if water is healthy, then you are healthy!
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