Chlorine is often added to public water supplies to kill bacteria and other microorganisms, ensuring the water is safe to drink. However, chlorine can sometimes leave an unpleasant taste or odor. Fortunately, there are simple ways to remove it from your water.
You can remove chlorine from water by boiling it or by letting it stand in an open container for a few hours.
Simple Home Methods to Remove Chlorine
Removing chlorine primarily relies on its volatile nature – it can turn into a gas and escape from the water. The reference highlights two effective methods:
Boiling Water
Boiling water is a quick way to eliminate chlorine. The process involves heating the water to its boiling point, which significantly speeds up the rate at which chlorine gas escapes.
- Process: Pour water into a pot or kettle and bring it to a rolling boil.
- Mechanism: The heat and vigorous movement accelerate the evaporation of dissolved chlorine.
- Effectiveness: Boiling is effective for removing chlorine relatively quickly.
- Reference: As stated in the reference, boiling water will remove chlorine.
Letting Water Stand
Allowing chlorinated water to sit exposed to the air over time permits the chlorine to naturally off-gas into the atmosphere.
- Process: Pour water into an open container (like a pitcher or glass) and leave it exposed to the air.
- Mechanism: Chlorine is volatile and will slowly evaporate from the water surface into the surrounding air.
- Effectiveness: This method takes longer than boiling, typically a few hours, and the time required depends on the amount of water, the container's surface area, and the initial chlorine level. A larger surface area allows chlorine to escape faster.
- Reference: The reference confirms that allowing chlorinated water to stand in an open container for a few hours is another way to remove chlorine.
Comparing Boiling and Standing
Here is a simple comparison of the two methods mentioned in the reference:
| Feature | Boiling Water | Letting Water Stand |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast (minutes) | Slow (hours) |
| Mechanism | Accelerated evaporation via heat | Natural evaporation into air |
| Energy Use | Requires heat | Requires no energy input |
| Best For | Quickly preparing water for use | Preparing larger batches over time |
Practical Considerations
While these methods are effective for removing chlorine (specifically free chlorine), they do not remove other contaminants that might be present in the water. Also, boiling water kills microorganisms, which might be beneficial depending on the water source, but simply letting water stand does not.
Both boiling and letting water stand are straightforward techniques accessible in most homes, offering simple ways to improve the taste and odor of chlorinated drinking water.
