How to Remove Chlorine from Water

Reducing chlorine in a glass of tap water with a chlorine-certified activated carbon filter usually takes a few minutes with a prepared filter; allow extra time if the cartridge needs preparation. A water ph calculator can help you interpret a pH value, but it cannot measure chlorine or confirm that a filter has removed it.

Chlorine is used to disinfect drinking water, so its presence does not automatically mean the water is unsafe. If you want to reduce its taste or smell, check your drinking water quality and choose a filter designed for the disinfectant your supplier uses.

Where does chlorine in drinking water come from?

Water suppliers commonly add chlorine to control germs during treatment and to leave a disinfectant residual as water travels through pipes. Some suppliers instead use chloramine, a disinfectant made from chlorine and ammonia. A private well or household water system can also be chlorinated during maintenance.

Chlorine and chloramine are not interchangeable when choosing a removal method. Chloramine is generally more persistent, and a filter that claims to reduce chlorine may not reduce chloramine effectively. Ask your water supplier which disinfectant it uses; the information may also appear in its annual water quality report.

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency sets a maximum residual disinfectant level of 4 mg/L, measured as chlorine, for both chlorine and chloramine. Regulatory compliance depends on how results are measured and averaged, so one reading alone does not necessarily establish a violation.

How does the body handle chlorine in drinking water?

Chlorine in drinking water reacts with substances in the water and digestive tract; much of it becomes chloride, an ordinary ion that the kidneys help regulate. At the levels used to disinfect drinking water, it is not something that requires a special detox regimen.

The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste. Sweating removes only trace amounts of most contaminants and is not a practical way to remove chlorine.

This discussion concerns disinfected drinking water, not swallowing concentrated chlorine products. Household bleach and pool chemicals can cause serious injury and should never be added to drinking water as a home remedy.

How do you reduce chlorine in water step by step?

A point-of-use activated carbon filter is a practical option when the goal is better-tasting drinking water. Follow the instructions for the particular filter rather than assuming every pitcher, faucet attachment or cartridge works the same way.

Check your disinfectant. Ask your water supplier whether it uses chlorine or chloramine. If you have a private water system that is treated with chlorine, ask the installer or treatment professional about its operation.
Choose a certified filter. Look for a product independently certified under NSF/ANSI 42 with a specific claim for chlorine reduction. If your water contains chloramine, look for a specific chloramine-reduction claim as well; a chlorine claim alone is not enough.
Match the cartridge to the device. Check that the replacement cartridge is the one covered by the product’s certification. A carbon filter’s performance depends on its design and on the water passing through it as directed.
Prepare the filter. Install, soak or flush the cartridge according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Preparation can add time before the first glass is ready.
Filter cold tap water. Run the water through the device at its specified flow rate, then collect it in a clean drinking container. Do not exceed the filter’s stated capacity or use hot water unless its instructions permit it.
Maintain the cartridge. Replace it on the manufacturer’s schedule and clean the device as directed. An exhausted or poorly maintained filter may not reduce chlorine as claimed.
Check the result if needed. Use an appropriate chlorine test before and after filtering, particularly if the taste persists or the cartridge’s condition is uncertain. A filter reduces chlorine; it should not be assumed to remove every trace.

Other methods are less predictable for everyday drinking water. Leaving water exposed to air can allow free chlorine to dissipate, but the result depends on conditions and is less dependable for chloramine. Boiling can drive off some free chlorine, but it is not a reliable general method for removing chloramine, and it can concentrate some contaminants that do not evaporate.

Removing the disinfectant residual also means stored water has less protection against microbial growth. Use a clean, covered container and follow the filter maker’s storage instructions. If officials issue a boil-water or do-not-drink advisory, follow that advisory; a chlorine-reduction filter is not a substitute for the specified precautions.

Do foods or binders remove chlorine?

No food or detox drink is needed to remove the chlorine in ordinary disinfected drinking water. Eating particular foods, taking supplements or drinking extra water does not replace treating the water at the tap if you want to reduce chlorine before drinking it.

Activated carbon in a water filter is different from swallowing activated charcoal. Do not take charcoal or another binder to deal with chlorine in tap water: binders can interfere with medicines and are not a routine treatment for this purpose. They should be used medically only when a clinician or poison-control professional recommends them.

How can you test water for chlorine?

Home test kits can help you check the water before and after filtration. Choose a kit that identifies what it measures, follow its sampling and timing instructions, and compare results in the same units.

Test	What it helps show
Free chlorine	Chlorine available in its free disinfectant forms
Total chlorine	Free chlorine plus combined chlorine
Free and total chlorine together	Whether combined chlorine is present; the difference does not by itself identify every compound

If your supplier uses chloramine, ask which test is appropriate for your water and filter. Taste and smell alone cannot tell you the concentration or establish whether the water meets a standard. Likewise, a chlorine test does not show whether water is free of germs, lead or other contaminants.

If a result is unexpectedly high, repeat the test as directed and contact your supplier or local health department. They can help interpret the result and advise whether a laboratory test or a different source of drinking water is needed.

When should you stop using the water or see a doctor?

Stop using the affected water if you suspect a chemical spill or receive a do-not-drink advisory. Use a safe alternative and contact your water supplier or health department; filtering for chlorine alone may not address the problem.

If someone may have swallowed bleach, pool chemicals or another concentrated product, stop exposure, do not induce vomiting and contact Poison Control immediately. Seek emergency help for trouble breathing, collapse or other severe symptoms. For persistent irritation or symptoms you think may be related to the water, contact a healthcare professional rather than trying a detox treatment.