Water contains chlorine. Millions of people consume chlorinated tap water every day.
What chlorine is
Carl Wilhelm Scheele, a Swedish pharmacist, dropped a few drops of hydrochloric acid upon a bit of manganese dioxide in his modest experimental laboratory in 1774. A greenish-yellow gas arose in a matter of seconds.
He had recently discovered chlorine, even though he didn't realize it at the moment.
Sir Humphrey Davy, an English chemist, discovered several decades later that the greenish-yellow gas was indeed an element. People had previously assumed that the gas was an oxygen compound. Davy named the element after the Greek word khloros, which means greenish yellow. He proposed the name "chloric gas" or "chlorine." in 1810.
Where chlorine is found and how it is used
Chlorine can be found in abundance in both the Earth's crust and in ocean water. In the ocean, chlorine is found as part of the compound sodium chloride (NaCl), also known as table salt. In the Earth's crust, the most common minerals containing chlorine include halite (NaCl), carnallite, and sylvite (KCl).
Chlorine is a chemical disinfectant used in water treatment. It is also used for its bleaching ability and odor control. Fort Worth city water typically reaches its customers with a residual chlorine level of about .5 mg/L. Residual chlorine dissipates over a matter of a few hours.
Chlorine chemistry aids in the production of safe and plentiful food by protecting crops from pests and disinfecting kitchen worktops and other food-contact surfaces, killing E. coli, salmonella, and a variety of other foodborne pathogens.
Immediate signs and symptoms of chlorine exposure
The respiratory system and mucosal membranes are both irritated by chlorine gas. It has a smell that can be detected at 3.5 parts per million (ppm). Chlorine gas, which was used in high doses in chemical warfare during World War I, is lethal at 1,000 parts per million. Chlorine, when carefully added to our drinking water, protects us from hazardous germs.
If you've been exposed to a lot of chlorine, following precautions are crucial, according to the CDC.
- Remove any clothing that has been exposed to liquid chlorine as soon as possible. Any garment that needs to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body rather than pulled over.
- Seal the clothing in a plastic bag if feasible. The first plastic bag should then be sealed within a second plastic bag. This method of removing and sealing garments can help protect you and others from any chemicals that may be present on your clothing.
- If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.
- As quickly as possible, wash your entire body with large amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.
- If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts, remove them before rinsing your eyes, and place them in the bags with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes. You should dispose of them even if you do not wear disposable contacts. If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put the eyeglasses back on after you wash them.
- If you have swallowed (ingested) chlorine, do not induce vomiting or drink fluids.
Seek medical attention right away.
Pros of Chlorine in Water:
- Chlorine can efficiently eliminate disease-causing microorganisms in public drinking water due to its high toxicity. Chlorine is an excellent sanitizer that avoids a lot of waterborne illness and sickness on a daily basis.
- Proven reduction of most bacteria and viruses in water
- Residual protection against recontamination
- Ease-of-use and acceptability
- Proven reduction of diarrheal disease incidence
- Scalability and low cost
Cons of Chlorine in Water:
- Protozoa protection isn't very good.
- In turbid waterways, disinfection efficiency is reduced.
- Objections to the taste and odor
- It is necessary to guarantee that the solution is of high quality.
- Chlorination by-products' potential long-term impacts
What Can You Do?
While chlorine is required at the treatment plant and throughout the water distribution system, it is not required once the water reaches your home. There are a variety of devices available to reduce chlorine in your water, but you must first do a water test. A water test will reveal the quantity of chlorine in your water, allowing you to select the finest treatment system. Chlorine and chloramines can be removed using a whole-house carbon filtering system or a reverse osmosis system.
WHOLE HOUSE
In a process known as adsorptions, whole-house filtration systems employ activated carbon to remove chlorine, organic compounds, chemicals, lead, and other impurities.
Whole-house water filtration systems have several advantages. A full water filtration system, in instance, allows you to cook, wash, and bathe in contaminant-free water. Enjoy softer skin and hair, as well as a longer lifespan for your clothes, appliances, and water heater. With one of our filters, you may avoid buying bottled water and generating plastic garbage, both of which are harmful to oceans and the environment.
REVERSE OSMOSIS
Carbon filters are used in reverse osmosis systems to extract chlorine and chloramines. Reverse osmosis systems are one of the most popular water filtration systems because they can remove not just chlorine and chloramines from your water, but also a variety of other impurities.
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification technology that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove larger particles from drinking water. In reverse osmosis, an applied pressure is used to overcome osmotic pressure, a colligative property, that is driven by chemical potential, a thermodynamic parameter.
Why You Should Choose Crystal Quest
With over 30 years of experience and having served over a million happy customers, we understand the water filtration industry. We work with residential, commercial, and industrial clients, and we offer a wide range of filtration methods including media filtration, membrane technology, non-filtration, chemical and organic disinfection, oxidation by air and ozone, and dosing systems that pretreat the water prior to filtration. To learn more or to start your journey toward filtered water, contact us today or read our product reviews.
If you live in a major city, finding out what's in your water is simple as a search on the EPA's website by your zip code.
If you were unable to find your City's Water Report, please contact us at 800-934-0051 to find out more information.