A clean supply of drinking water is essential in a home or an office setting. This ensures that the people consuming the water stay healthy and are not subjected to harmful bacteria at any time. If you start to notice that the water tastes more chlorinated than usual at any point, it might be worth speaking to an expert (like Aquazania) about whether you have to dechlorinate it and how to go about doing so. Whenever something goes wrong with drinking water, it’s important to act fast. Today, we’ll detail what you can do to return the supply to its usual self.
The Dangers of Chlorine in Drinking Water
In high doses, chlorine not only makes drinking water taste bad, but it can also have adverse health effects. When it mixes with small amounts of the organic compounds found in water, the result is the production of harmful byproducts called Trihalomethanes (THMs). These are linked to the production of free radicals in the body, which may cause cell damage and other problems, so they should be avoided at all costs. Environmental agencies in different countries set out specific levels of chlorine that are safe for consumption, but over a certain amount it has to be dechlorinated before being consumed.
Dechlorination Option 1: UV Exposure
One way to dechlorinate water is to leave it out in the sun for a day, to allow the chlorine to evaporate naturally. This is easy, but it does take time and may leave the water vulnerable to other contaminants in the process. It also isn’t highly practical if you want to drink large amounts of water in a big household every day. Multiple batches can be done at the same time, but you need space to be able to do so. UV treatments, a popular dechlorination technology, is an alternative that removes the common problems related to leaving water out in the sun. Explore this as a viable solution, although it will require some upfront investment on your side too.
Dechlorination Option 2: Vitamin C
Another DIY method you can try to remove chlorine is to add vitamin C tablets or powder to it. This helps to decrease the pH levels of the water. It is a resilient option to use, albeit somewhat impractical as you have to buy a substantial amount of vitamin C. On average, around 40 mg will be able to dechlorinate four to five litres of water. Keep in mind that this will also affect the taste of the water and daily recommended amounts will need to be carefully monitored. Perhaps not the best fit for an office setting, it’s worth speaking to an expert about a more practical solution instead if you have a large amount of people depending on the supply.
Dechlorination Option 3: Boil and Cool Method
Last but not least, dechlorination is possible with an age-old method that has worked for people all over the world. Boiling water for 20 minutes and cooling it after will degas it, leading to the evaporation of the chlorine. Once at room temperature, it’s possible to consume it as usual. This might be one of the most viable options on the list, but if you’d like to see what alternatives are available to you, including bottled or bottleless water cooler solutions with filtered water, chat to us about investing in our products.
