Why Is Chlorine Added To Tap Water Despite The Hazards

Perhaps 20 years ago the question - "Why Is Chlorine Added To Tap Water" would never have been asked. People assumed that there is nothing negative about chlorinating tap water.

After all, having learned in chemistry classes how it is used to make our water supply safe, it is no wonder that in the past, many people didn't consider the disadvantages.

But with the information age, the faster distribution of information has opened consumers' eyes to just how dangerous chlorination of drinking water can be.

Chlorine As a Disinfectant.

Chlorine has been deemed a highly efficient disinfectant of tap water. It is added to our water supply to kill disease causing pathogens. The occurrences of typhoid, cholera and other waterborne illnesses have significantly been reduced due to the effects of chlorination.

As a matter of fact it also eliminates the h.pylori bacteria which is considered to be a leading cause of stomach cancer.

Disinfection At A Price

Chlorination has tremendous downsides. A minor disadvantage is that it dries out skin and hair when you take a shower. It is the same thing that happens when you go for a swim in the pool and you notice the changes in your hair and skin.

At the other of the spectrum, when chlorine reacts with organic matter, it forms toxins called trihalomethanes (THMs) which eventually gets into our bodies. THMs has been linked to asthma, eczema, bladder cancer, breast cancer and heart disease.

Even if you decide not to drink tap water but drink bottled water instead - you are still at risk of exposure when you take a shower. Some scientists even claim that you are more at risk when you have a hot shower because chlorine turns to steam which you inhale or it seeps through your skin.

Alternatives.

Some countries disinfect their water supply with ozone instead of chlorine. But until that becomes the standard in North America, households need to protect themselves from the threat of this contaminant.

The best way to do this is to purchase a shower head filter, a whole house water filtration system or perhaps a faucet water filter. These are capable of removing chlorine and making your water healthier and tastier to drink.

A shower head filter and a faucet filter will only remove this contaminant from your shower and tap respectively. But a whole house water filtration unit will remove it from every tap in your home - even from your dishwasher and washing machine water lines.

But before you rush out and buy the first filtration unit you see, make sure you are buying a quality device. Such devices are usually certified.