How to Filter Chlorinated Water

Generally speaking, the quality of drinking water in the Czech Republic is at a high level. However, this does not mean you should not be cautious when consuming it. Even water from waterworks contains a number of substances that are not particularly beneficial to our health. People most often worry about chlorine. Find out why water is chlorinated, what risks this process entails, and how to effectively avoid them.

Why Chlorine is Added to Drinking Water

Chlorine is a chemical disinfectant added to water in waterworks during the purification process. In treatment plants, not only mechanical impurities are removed, but especially biological ones – that is, various bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can immediately threaten human health.

Chlorination of water is therefore an effective way to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases from drinking water, as chlorine kills almost all microorganisms. This water disinfection process began to be used at the end of the 19th century in England and quickly spread worldwide. Today, all water from public sources in the Czech Republic is chlorinated, and chlorination is also an important part of pool maintenance.

Tap water in the Czech Republic is chlorinated, but only to a minimal effective extent. It is therefore safe and strictly monitored. According toDecree No. 252/2004 Coll., the permitted concentration of free chlorine in drinking water is 0.3 mg/l, and this concentration is duly adhered to.

The exact concentration of chlorine is revealed by a professional water analysis

Chlorination of Water from Private Sources

If you draw water from private sources, its disinfection is entirely in your hands. Removing biological contamination is the most important part of water treatment. Especially in shallow dug wells, the occurrence of dangerous pathogens is very common. Chlor can also be used to disinfect well water, or other chemical disinfectants intended for this purpose.

Alternatively, UV lamps can be used to disinfect water from private sources, which are more environmentally friendly and do not leave any harmful residues in the water. However, their effect is limited compared to chlorine, so always make sure this method is suitable for your well.

Risks of Drinking Chlorinated Water

Chlorine in water itself is not dangerous to humans; however, it reacts with organic compounds in the water and creates so-called disinfection by-products.

It is scientifically proven that these substances are potentially carcinogenic, which is why their concentrations are strictly monitored. Chlorinated water also worsens the condition of the skin and skin diseases, such as eczema. Moreover, it has a worse smell and taste than water without chlorine. Although these risks are low compared to the risks of consuming non-disinfected water, they are not entirely negligible.

For these reasons, more and more people are installing filters that specifically remove chlorine from water in their homes. This way, the water is properly disinfected with chlorine, but the chlorine is subsequently removed, so it does not contain dangerous carcinogenic substances and has a better smell and taste.  

Filters for Chlorine in Drinking Water

If you decide to improve the quality of your water, you first need to know its exact composition. You can find this out either from local waterworks or through a professional water analysis from an accredited laboratory. Only then will you know what problems your water has and what the concentration of chlorine is. Do not trust door-to-door water filter salesmen or rely on analysis results from, for example, a neighbour. Every water is different.  

When choosing a filter, consult a specialised company that must assess the water analysis and propose a tailored solution for you. If you primarily want to reduce the chlorine content in the water, they will likely suggest installing a carbon filter, which is recommended for these purposes by all health experts. Activated carbon is also a common component of rainwater filters.  

Note – membrane, magnetic, or electromagnetic filtration is not recommended for drinking water and can even worsen water quality. Boiling does not change the chemical composition of the water, and therefore does not reduce the chlorine content (on the contrary, due to partial evaporation of the water, the concentration of chemical admixtures slightly increases).

How Activated Carbon Improves Water Quality

A carbon water filter is very effective and improves water quality in several ways:

• Removes harmful chemicals including chlorine, residues of pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, etc.,
• partially disinfects the water,
• removes turbidity from the water,
• improves the smell and taste of the water,
• preserves important minerals in the water.

The result is truly quality, healthy, and tasty filtered water with an optimal composition, which will please not only your body but also your houseplants and pets.  

Honeywell water filter with activated carbon insert

Types of Domestic Water Filters with Activated Carbon

There are essentially 3 types of water filters with activated carbon, which differ in the amount of water filtered and acquisition costs.

1. Water filters at the inlet: Filter all water in the building. These large-capacity devices are the most financially demanding and require professional installation. An inlet carbon filter is most commonly installed in households with a private well as a source of drinking water.
2. Tap water filters: Installed on a specific tap, most often in the kitchen. They only filter water from the given tap and if the intention is to reduce chlorine consumption, this solution is completely sufficient. They are typically installed in households connected to the public water supply network.
3. Filter jugs: The volume of filtered water is limited by the volume of the jug. This method is therefore intended only for filtering water for drinking. It is the cheapest and simplest solution, as the jug does not need to be installed anywhere.

When choosing a filter for chlorinated water, consider how much water you actually need to filter. If you only want to reduce chlorine consumption and improve the taste of the water, a tap water filter or filter jug will suffice. However, if the water problem is more extensive, or if you want to filter water in the bathroom due to skin diseases, choose an inlet filter.

Select a Suitable Carbon Filter