Clean drinking water is the priority for everyone. We have often heard about the presence of ‘Chlorine’ in the drinking water, in varying quantities, have we really understood the why exactly is chlorine added to water and how safe is it for our systems?
As a halogen, chlorine is a highly efficient disinfectant, and is added to public water supplies to kill disease-causing pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoans, that commonly grow in water supply reservoirs, on the walls of water mains and in storage tanks.
But while adding Chlorine to drinking water is important and good for us, what is not healthy is drinking the chlorine present in the water. Drinking water that has high levels of chlorine present in it can cause tiredness, dizziness and headaches. It can also lead to eyes and throat irritation and can be a major contributor to childhood asthma.
So how do we ensure that we are not drinking chlorinated water? Simple, by de-chlorinating water at home! Here’s how…
1. Let the Sun absorb Chlorine from the water
To de-chlorinate the water at home, pour it in a large vessel and place it outside in the Sun. The chlorine will escape the water in form of gas. This works best for de-chlorinating swimming pool water and also when preparing water for the aquarium.
2. Boiling the water
Another method of de-chlorinating water at home is to boil it. However, do remember that to completely de-chlorinate it we must boil it for a minimum period of 20 minutes.
3. Using Vitamin C tablets
Vitamin C tablets also work as an effective medium of de-chlorinating water at home. Depending up on the brand, usually one tablet can treat up to 100 gallons (378.5 L) of water. De-chlorination tablets work well for bathwater and hot tubs, especially in households where presence of chlorine in water in high.
4. Install a carbon filter de-chlorination system
This is a useful means to filter the entire water system in your home. These tank systems come in a variety of tank sizes to choose from. However, please note that but they may be the most expensive de-chlorination option available. This method provides total de-chlorination of the home water supply. The filters require some care, such as washing out the carbon filter every six months and replacing it as recommended by the manufacturer, but this sure is an effective medium.
