What do you do when your tap water smells like chlorine, or maybe it even tastes like chorine as well? What do you need to know?
Treating water with chlorine is a regulation procedure required by Environmental Protection Agency in the US. But the essential use of chlorine to kill microorganisms in public water supplies can be dangerous to health. Moreover, it can also disrupt the taste and smell of tap water. Let’s take a look at why that happens:
Why Tap Water Smells Like Chlorine?
As per the Environmental Protection Agency, the recommended amount of chlorine is 4 mg or less per liter of water. But water begins smelling of chlorine when the amount reaches or exceeds 1 mg/liter. Since it is not uncommon for the water supply in your tap to contain more than 1 mg/liter, it is not unusual that tap water smells like chlorine. While it doesn’t mean the water is over-chlorinated, an unpleasant smell can make one opposed to drinking water.
Why Tap Water Tastes Like Chlorine?
Tap water can taste like chlorine even if the smell is undistinguishable. When tap water tastes like chlorine, it is most often overchlorinated. However, chlorine taste can also be more noticeable in cleaner water, i.e., water treated with chlorine that wasn’t as unclean before the treatment. It is unpleasant to drink tap water that tastes like chlorine.
While consuming chlorine in liquid form isn’t as dangerous as inhaling it, some researchers have linked various cancers with potentially drinking chlorinated water. Though little evidence supports this theory, even a one percent chance of developing a life-altering and life-threatening disease due to drinking chlorine water is enough for anyone to give up drinking tap water.
Why is Chlorine Used as Water Disinfectant?
If you are wondering why a potentially harmful chemical like chlorine is used for water disinfection, read on:
Chlorine as a Water Disinfectant
Water pipes can often harbor the growth of bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms. Bacteria in water pipes can form a slime coating on the pipe walls. Chlorine is able to eliminate the slime layer and kill the bacteria that formed it.
Chlorine as a Bleaching Agent
Chlorine removes organic food stains from cloth by oxidizing them which allows them to be rinsed away. If too much chlorine is used for too long it can also remove color dyes and even damage the fabric fibers. Chlorine is used extensively in manufacturing many other cleaning supplies and even pesticides. Thus, while it can make water safer, it can also easily prove harmful. Chlorine reacts with and harms living cells. It can also react with organic contaminants and produce acids, which can severely harm whichever living cells it comes into contact with.
Why Is Tap Water Smelling and Tasting of Chlorine Concerning?
As mentioned above, tap water can smell of chlorine and be potentially dangerous to health. However, the residents of the house where tap water smells like chlorine are at risk of dehydration and developing obesity and related illnesses.
Health Issues Caused by Over-Chlorinated Water
This is because they won’t reach out for water as a source of hydration when they are thirsty. Instead, they will take a can of soda or a pack of juice. Thus, chlorine-smelling water can add unnecessary sugars to the residents’ diets. While adults may still be able to choose the less harmful beverage, children are especially prone to develop unhealthy eating habits.
Chlorine smelling water can also affect the taste of the food. Most recipes require adding water, but unpleasant tasting water can bring that bitterness to the food as well. This can also lead people to order in instead of cooking at home.
Financial Issues Caused by Over-Chlorinated Water
But besides indirectly harming the health, over-chlorinated water also harms the bank account. It is no secret that cooking food at home and drinking water as a source of hydration is much cheaper than ordering food from restaurants and buying artificial beverages. Moreover, an unhealthy diet also increases the chances of developing obesity, diabetes, and other health issues. In turn, health issues lead to greater medical bills.
Though there are bottled water subscriptions that can solve health issues, they can still be heavy on the pocket. Moreover, the unavailability of bottled water will lead to the same issues.
Therefore, tap water smelling and tasting of chlorine is not the best for the overall health of the residents of the home. In fact, it requires immediate action to ensure your family’s health.
What To Do When Tap Water Smells and Tastes of Chlorine?
Chlorine’s role as a water disinfectant is only required until it reaches your tap. Therefore, de-chlorinating the tap water before consumption is perfectly safe and even recommended.
A de-chlorinator is a chlorine and chlorine by-product removal system that uses a whole house carbon filter or reverse osmosis drinking water system. Both technologies are efficient and make the tap water in your home safe for drinking and cooking.
Contact a local water filtration company to find out which would be more suitable for your home. American Clear Water offers free at-home water tests to determine which water filtration system is best for your and your family’s needs. All the water filtration solutions American Clear Water offers comply with CDC standards.
So if tap water smells like chlorine or tap water tastes like chlorine in your home, don’t continue consuming it. Contact American Clear Water today to ensure safe and healthy drinking water for yourself and your family.De-chlorinating water allows you to cut down on excess expenditure on bottled water, fast food, and junk food. It also allows you to develop a healthy habit of staying hydrated with the best and cheapest beverage that nature provides. It also allows parents to develop healthy eating habits among children from a young age. Even if the water is only temporarily over-chlorinated, getting rid of all chlorine will make tap water healthier.