Chlorine can be removed from water using three primary methods: evaporation, filtration, and chemical neutralization. Each method has its own advantages and effectiveness.
1. Remove Chlorine by Evaporation
Chlorine is a volatile compound that will naturally evaporate from water if left standing. This method is cost-free but time-consuming. Leave water exposed to air for at least 24 hours, preferably at room temperature to speed up the process.
Benefits: Natural and cost-free.
2. Remove Chlorine by Filtration
Using a reverse osmosis (RO) system can remove chlorine along with other contaminants. For most households, the most practical and effective method to remove chlorine from drinking water is to install a reverse osmosis filtration system. This not only removes chlorine but also dozens of other contaminants, for fresh, great-tasting water.
Benefits: Removes a wide range of contaminants, providing great-tasting, filtered drinking water.
3. Remove Chlorine Through Chemical Neutralization
Adding chemicals like potassium metabisulfite can neutralize chlorine. This method is effective and quick, often used in commercial applications. But most people don't want to add a chemical to the drinking water in their homes.
Benefits: Fast and potent, suitable for large volumes of water.
Why Remove Chlorine?
Chlorine in drinking water can lead to unpleasant taste and odor, and prolonged exposure may pose health risks due to disinfection byproducts like THMs and HAAs. According to the EPA, drinking water should contain no more than 4 mg/L of chlorine.
RO systems incorporate carbon block filters which can remove up to 98% of chlorine, plus chlorine byproducts.
Carbon filters, used as a pre-filter and post filter, can remove chlorine while the other filters and membrane in the RO System will remove many other contaminants including lead, fluoride, Arsenic V, PFOS, nitrates, pesticides, and more. Learn more about what contaminants reverse osmosis can remove.
Why is Chlorine in Our Drinking Water
Chlorine and chloramines are commonly used by municipalities to treat drinking water, as they are inexpensive disinfectants that can eliminate algae, mold, and slime bacteria that commonly grow in water supply reservoirs.
Currently, 98% of municipal water treatment facilities in the U.S. use some form of chlorine.
And since 86% of U.S. households receive their water from a municipal supplier, it's safe to say that most households have chlorine in their tap water. In low dosages, chlorine and chloramines are generally safe in drinking water.
86% of homes in U.S. are on public water supply that treat with chlorine or chloramine
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires municipal water treatment facilities to maintain chlorine levels no more than 4 mg/L. This amount is considered safe for consumption.
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Why Filter Chlorine from Drinking Water?
Chlorine leaves a strong bleach-like odor and taste in drinking water.
But beyond the unpleasant taste and odor, prolonged exposure to chlorine in drinking water can also lead to health risks due to disinfection byproducts like THMs and HAAs.
In recent years, increased concerns have arisen about the adverse health effects of chlorine and chloramine in drinking water.
Multiple studies have shown that chlorine can react with naturally occurring organic and inorganic matter in water to form disinfection byproducts such as Trihalomethanes (chloroform) THMs and haloacetic acids (HAAs) which can potentially pose health risks.
As a result, many households are looking for a way to remove chlorine and chloramines through reverse osmosis filtration.
Reverse Osmosis Can Remove Chlorine Plus Dozens of Other Contaminants
Reverse Osmosis is an effective method for removing 99% of common pollutants found in drinking water. RO filtration can produce healthy, great-tasting, clean drinking water.
RO is a popular water filtration method because it is easy-to-maintain and is cost effective. For example, a family of four can have great-tasting, clean RO-filtered water each day for just pennies per gallon. A new reverse osmosis drinking water system generally costs about $300. To maintain the system, filters should be replaced annually. The filter replacement schedule may vary depending on the quality of incoming water.
What are the Pros and Cons of RO Water Filters?
Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Systems Start at $299
To remove chlorine from water, reverse osmosis is the most effective method. We recommend a point-of-use (POU) drinking water RO system installed at your kitchen sink.
Here are three of our top picks for Reverse Osmosis systems that provide outstanding drinking water:
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Proven, High-Quality System
Compact, Space-Saving Design
Advanced Filtration, Quick-Change Filters, & Conserves Water
Designer Chrome Faucet
Standard Chrome Faucet
Designer Chrome Faucet
High-Flow 3/8" Tubing to Faucet
High-Flow 3/8" Tubing to Faucet
High-Flow 3/8" Tubing to Faucet
4-Stages of Filtration
4-Stages of Filtration
4-Stages of Filtration
Compact 3.2 Gallon Storage Tank
Standard 4.4 Gallon Storage Tank
Standard 4.4 Gallon Storage Tank
Airgap Faucet Connection
Airgap Faucet Connection
Air Gap and Non-Airgap Faucet Connection
50 Gallons Per Day
50 Gallons Per Day
75 Gallons Per Day
Made in USA
Designed in USA, Made in China
Made in USA
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Chlorine Alternatives for Well Water
While households on city water don't have a choice whether chlorine is used to treat their water, homes on well water can choose.
Well water is highly susceptible to bacteria, and chlorine is an inexpensive way to kill bacteria in water. But a UV water disinfection system is the recommended method for treating bacteria in well water. Chlorine is a harsh chemical and can have adverse health effects. Plus, chlorine is only a temporary method to "shock" the well for bacteria.
The Viqua Arros 15-IHS22 inclues two integrated prefilters to improve the taste and odor of your water.
LED Status system indicator.
All-in-one UV solution boasting added layers of water filtration and treatment.
Streamlined installation and simple maintenance
Safeguards ALL the water coming into your home.
FAQs
Does Boiling Water Remove Chlorine?
Yes, boiling water for 15 minutes is one way to release chlorine from your tap water. But you'd have to boil for hours to remove the chloramine. And because dissolved air leaves water during the boiling process, the result is a "flat" taste when you're done. You could also let the water sit at room temperature to dissipate the chlorine. Chlorine gas weighs less than air and with time, will naturally evaporate off without boiling. But this process also leaves water tasting "flat".
On a day-to-day basis, boiling water (or waiting for the chlorine to evaporate out) for drinking water is generally not feasible.
It's generally recommended to boil water for at least one minute at a rolling boil to purify it. However, if you're at higher altitudes (above 6,562 feet or 2,000 meters), you should boil the water for at least three minutes, as water boils at lower temperatures at higher elevations.
Keep in mind that boiling water doesn't remove chemicals like chlorine or chloramine.
How long does it take to remove chlorine from tap water?
Typically, if left exposed to air in an open container, chlorine will naturally dissipate within a few hours to a day. Boiling water for 15 minutes also helps to remove chlorine as it causes the chlorine to evaporate. But the quickest and most effective way to remove chlorine from drinking water is with activated carbon filters in a reverse osmosis drinking water system. An under-sink RO unit can effectively remove chlorine from tap water, providing clean and chlorine-free water for consumption.
Can Reverse Osmosis Remove Chloramine?
If you're mostly concerned with Chloramine removal alone, you can take a different approach than that of chlorine. Because of chloramine's low molecular weight, it cannot be removed with a typical carbon filter, but rather with a catalytic carbon filter.
In simple terms, chloramine is chlorine PLUS ammonia. Municipal water suppliers are now using chloramine even more than chlorine as a disinfectant chemical. One reason for the switch is due to concerns about the adverse effects of chlorination (see below). But the main reason for the switch is that chloramine as a disinfectant remains in the water longer during the distribution process.
To learn more about what's in your drinking water, you can access a report at Environmental Working Group (ewg.org). Simply input your zip code and you'll be able to see what contaminants are in your tap water, and specifically which contaminant levels exceed guidelines.
Chlorine and Chloramine: What's the Difference
The fact that chloramine disinfectant remains in water longer than chlorine (during the pipeline distribution process) is a PLUS for municipal water suppliers. But the downside of chloramine's longevity is that chloramine isharder to remove with a water filter.
Chloramine must be removed before using a kidney dialysis machine as chloramine can enter the bloodstream through dialysis membranes
Chloramine can cause skin sensitivities and reactions
Chloramine can cause leaching of lead from lead soldering or lead pipes (learn more about lead poisoning)
Chloramine-treated water should not be used in fish tanks, as the chemical can harm fish
Chloramine causes strong bleach-like taste and odor (similar to chlorine) in drinking water
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The simplest and most effective solution to remove chlorine from household drinking water, is to install a Reverse Osmosis under-sink drinking water filtration system. In addition, Reverse Osmosis is an economical method.
