Chlorine

Chlorine is a known disinfectant used in public water systems to kill harmful bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that may be present, and when added to water, chlorine forms hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion which act as oxidizing agents to destroy harmful pathogens. While chlorine is effective in the reduction of waterborne illnesses, it can have some negative effects, for example, exposure to high levels of chlorine can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems and eye irritations. Additionally, when chlorines interact with organic matter in water, it is known to produce harmful by products such as trihalomethanes (THMs) which have been linked to reproductive problems and certain cancers. To minimize these potential effects of chlorine in our water, it’s important to monitor the levels in drinking water and to use appropriate filtration methods such as activated carbon filters or reverse osmosis systems to remove chorine and other harmful contaminants.