Chlorine has been used to disinfect public water supplies for over a century. It's remarkably effective at killing dangerous pathogens and has prevented countless waterborne disease outbreaks. But once water arrives safely at your home, is there any reason to keep it?
Why Water Utilities Add Chlorine
Municipal water treatment plants add chlorine (or chloramine, a chlorine-ammonia compound) as the final step in water treatment. This "residual" chlorine travels through the distribution system, preventing bacterial regrowth in miles of pipes between the treatment plant and your home.
This is critical for public health. Without disinfection, biofilms and bacteria could grow inside water mains, potentially causing outbreaks of diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery that plagued communities before modern water treatment.
The Problem with Chlorine at Home
While chlorine serves an important purpose in transit, it creates several issues once water enters your home:
Taste and Odor
Chlorine gives water a distinctive "pool water" taste and smell that many people find unpleasant. This is especially noticeable in areas where utilities maintain higher chlorine levels or switch from chloramine to free chlorine seasonally.
Skin and Hair Effects
Chlorine strips natural oils from skin and hair. Many people experience dry, itchy skin after showering in chlorinated water, and hair can become brittle and lose its color vibrancy faster. Those with eczema or sensitive skin often notice significant improvement after installing whole-house filtration.
Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)
When chlorine reacts with organic matter in water, it creates disinfection byproducts including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). These compounds have been linked to increased cancer risk and reproductive issues in numerous studies.
EPA Regulation
The EPA regulates DBP levels in public water supplies, but maximum contaminant levels are set based on treatment feasibility, not solely on health effects. Many health advocates believe current limits are too high.
Chlorine Exposure in the Shower
You absorb more chlorine during a 10-minute hot shower than from drinking 8 glasses of the same water. Here's why:
Dermal absorption - Warm water opens pores, allowing chlorine to absorb directly through skin
Inhalation - Hot water vaporizes chlorine, which you breathe in the enclosed shower
Concentrated exposure - Steam concentrates THMs and other volatile compounds
This is why point-of-use drinking water filters only address part of the problem. Whole-house carbon filtration removes chlorine from all water entering your home.
The Solution: Whole-House Carbon Filtration
Activated carbon is extremely effective at removing chlorine, chloramine, and DBPs. A whole-house carbon filter installed where water enters your home provides chlorine-free water at every tap, shower, and appliance.
Removes 97% or more of chlorine and chloramine
Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from all water
Reduces trihalomethanes and other DBPs
Also removes many pesticides, herbicides, and industrial solvents
Capacity of 1 million+ gallons means years between media changes
Choosing the Right Carbon Filter
Not all carbon filters are created equal. Key factors to consider:
What to Look For
Carbon Type
Coconut shell carbon is most effective for chlorine removal. Avoid systems using coal-based carbon.
Contact Time
Water must contact the carbon long enough for effective treatment. Larger tanks with more media provide better results.
Flow Rate
The system should be sized for your home's peak demand without sacrificing contact time.
Certification
Look for NSF/ANSI 42 certification, which verifies chlorine removal claims.
The Bottom Line
Chlorine serves an essential purpose in protecting water during distribution. But once water reaches your home, that job is done. Removing chlorine improves water taste, protects skin and hair, and reduces exposure to potentially harmful byproducts.
A whole-house carbon filter is a relatively simple and economical solution that provides chlorine-free water throughout your home for years with minimal maintenance.