Have you ever wondered why there is chlorine in our drinking water? Chlorine is the most common chemical that is used to disinfect our municipal drinking water, and although it is safe to consume in small amounts, the aesthetically displeasing attributes of chlorine are enough to make some avoid it completely. So, why is it used?
Governments, council electorates, and water boards around the world continue to utilise chlorine in their water treatment processes because it is simply the most economical and effective method of disinfecting a large water source across vast distances of pipe work. In Sydney alone, this system consists of 21,000 kilometres of pipelines which link up to 152 pumping stations and 255 water service reservoirs. This infrastructure is then also linked to 13 water distribution systems that service the city and surrounding suburbs. Due to this large and complex piping system, any other disinfection method such as UV or membrane technology would not offer any protection to family homes and businesses located within the network: it would only create safe drinking water at the point of disinfection.
How Does it Work?
When dosed correctly, chlorine effectively kills an extensive variety of microbial pathogens, including cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. Chlorine is also one of the few disinfectants that can effectively eliminate microorganisms during the treatment process and maintain safe levels of disinfection all the way through a water network to your very own kitchen tap. Chlorine neutralises these pathogens at a cellular level by introducing Hypochlorous Acid, which enters the cell wall in a concentrated form and breaks down enzymes within the cell wall, leaving them open to attack.
Why Can I Taste it?
Have you ever noticed that tap water can taste different depending on your location? Many homeowners consuming treated drinking water will find that it is not unusual to notice that chlorine taste and odour can be more prevalent at one location than another. This increase or decrease in chlorine is dependant purely on your home location in relation to your water source or treatment facility. Chlorine can dissipate over time and distance, so to counteract this, there needs to be enough dosage of chlorine in the system to be effective; from the nearest house to the furthest house. Your proximity to the treatment facility may mean that you experience a higher dose of chlorine, so that other homes further downstream of you are still safely and sufficiently dosed.
Be rest assured, however, that even though the taste, smell, mouthfeel and overall experience of chlorine in our drinking water may be unpleasant at times, the dosage of chlorine in Australian water treatment facilities is continuously monitored and is safe enough for our families to consume on a daily and ongoing basis. And if you would prefer not to taste or smell chlorine in your household water, there are plenty of options available to you at Fridge Filters Australia. We stock affordable and reliable water filtration products for your kitchen taps, your shower, and your fridge. These filters are designed to reduce chlorine taste and odour from your water supply and provide you and your family with fresh, clean, great-tasting drinking water.
If you would like more information on our range, you can speak to one of our experienced and friendly sales staff by calling us on 1300 742 249 or by sending us a quick email at [email protected].
