Chlorine Taste and Odor in Tap Water
Why your water tastes like a pool, whether it's harmful, and the simplest way to fix it.
Chlorine is there on purpose
Chlorine (or chloramine) is added to municipal water as a disinfectant. It kills bacteria and viruses during the journey from treatment plant to your tap. Without it, waterborne disease would be a constant threat. The taste and smell are side effects of a system that keeps water safe.
Is it harmful?
At the levels used in drinking water (typically 0.5-2.0 mg/L), chlorine is not considered harmful to drink. However, disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water are associated with increased cancer risk at high levels. Some people also experience dry skin and hair irritation from showering in chlorinated water.
The simplest fix
Activated carbon filtration removes chlorine effectively and affordably. For drinking water only, an under-sink or pitcher filter works. For whole-house chlorine removal (including shower water), a whole-house carbon filter is the standard solution. Important: if your city uses chloramine instead of chlorine, you need catalytic carbon. standard granular activated carbon does not remove chloramine.