Chlorine in tap water, is it necessary? Is drinking it harmful? Is showering in it harmful? Should I get a whole house water filter?
There are many questions in regards to chlorine in drinking water. Chlorine is a man made additive in drinking water, which is typically added to a concentration of 0.5-2.0 parts per million in tap water. This chlorine is vital in keeping our drinking sources safe from bacteria and viruses. But, for the same reason chlorine is great for killing unwanted pathogens, its not great to drink and shower in. Many people have asked if they should get a whole house filter in order to filter out the chlorine in their home. My answer is, no. Here’s why, the chlorine in drinking water prevents bacteria from forming in your waterlines. A whole home filter will filter out the chlorine coming from the city. While that may sound like a good idea, it leaves the possibility for any water lines downstream of the filter at risk for bacteria growth. The ideal scenario is the filter out the chlorine at the point of use. So, for example if you’re drinking the tap water, get a sink filter which will filter out the chlorine as its coming from the sink. Or, if you’re showering get a showerhead filter which pulls the chlorine out of the water at the shower head. You want to keep the chlorine in the waterlines up until use.