Chlorine is commonly found in municipal water supplies, and it’s actually pretty dangerous for you and your family’s health!
We all naturally expect our municipal water sources to be potable and clean, but it’s no longer a secret that our public water often contains all sorts of contaminants. This is why many municipalities throughout northern Utah will use disinfectants like chlorine to treat water supplies in an attempt to make it cleaner and safer for human consumption.
So although chlorine is known for killing many different harmful microorganisms, it also comes with many drawbacks. There are several dangers associated with drinking chlorinated water, which is why it’s so crucial for home and business owners to take extra steps to properly filter their plumbing system’s potable water.
Below we’ll be detailing everything you need to know about the dangers of having chlorine in your home’s drinking water!
Is Chlorine Actually Needed In Municipal Drinking Water?
It’s important to remember that there are plenty of benefits of adding chlorine into municipal water supplies. Chlorine is a very effective disinfectant that’s capable of destroying many different pathogens, and it also helps reduce unpleasant tastes and odors within municipal water.
Water treatment facilities utilize chlorine to reduce the risks of spreading waterborne diseases, so chlorination has played a significant role in reducing health issues like typhoid fever, cholera and dysentery. Chlorine has become a vital tool to help municipalities maintain public health; however, there are plenty of problems associated with chlorinated drinking water.
Chlorinated water often contains disinfection byproducts, or DBPs. These have been scientifically proven to be connected to many different health issues, including the increased likelihood of reproductive issues and cancer.
Common Dangers Of Chlorinated Drinking Water
As mentioned in the above section, chlorinated water is typically safe for human consumption. The bigger issues arise when it comes to the other issues associated with chlorine, particularly when chlorine is used too much at water treatment facilities.
So, the big question still remains: what are the side effects of overly-chlorinated water?
Below are some of the common dangers linked to chlorinated water consumption that you should know about!
Disinfection Byproducts
DBPs are one of the top concerns that come with chlorinated water, because combining chlorine with water creates many harmful compounds like haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes.
These DBPs have been linked to very serious health concerns, like an increased risk of cancer, reproductive issues, and other health effects.
Allergic Reactions
Chlorinated drinking water is also widely known for causing skin irritations, itchy eyes, and other respiratory problems. These types of side effects can even lead to allergic reactions.
People with pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma or sensitive skin may experience significant symptoms when exposed to chlorinated drinking water.
Disrupts Internal Health
Chlorine doesn’t just kill bad bacteria, but it also kills beneficial bacteria found within our bodies. Consuming chlorinated water for long periods of time can potentially disrupt an individual’s microbiome balance, which can lead to many different gut problems.
This is particularly troubling for the digestive system, as well as our overall health.
Negative Environmental Impacts
The negative impacts of chlorinated drinking water don’t just impact people, because marine life can also be negatively impacted when municipal water reaches lakes and rivers.
Chlorine is toxic for fish and other water-based organisms, and the presence of chlorine within natural bodies of water can develop harmful chemical accumulation throughout northern Utah’s ecosystem.
How Chlorine Can Be Removed From Drinking Water
So, should you remove chlorine from your home’s drinking water? If you want your water to be 100% safe, then yes, you should remove as much chlorine from your municipal water sources as you can.
The good news is that there are plenty of filtering options that you can consider, including the following:
- Activated carbon filters
- Reverse osmosis filters
- Water distillation
- Ultraviolet disinfection
- Chloramine disinfection
- Ozonation
Reach Out To Beehive Plumbing To Learn More About Our Water Filtration Services!
Beehive Plumbing is one of the leading plumbing companies in northern Utah, so we understand just how important it is for every home and business to properly filter their municipal water supplies.
Northern Utah just so happens to have water that’s very high in mineral content, and our water filtration services and water softeners can keep you and your property safe from inadvertent harm.
Contact us online or call us at 801-661-8155 to speak with our Master Plumbers today about how we can boost the safety and cleanliness of your property’s water!
