I recently moved into a new house that has a chlorination system already installed. Should I continue using it? Is it an effective method of killing bacteria in my water? And how can I remove the chlorine after chlorination, so that I don't taste and smell it in my water?
Thanks,
Arlene P.
Arlene,
This is a good question. Chlorination can be a very effective treatment method for bacteria and odors, and a good pre-treatment for filtering iron and manganese particles. However, chlorination can cause problems for users on septic tanks, as the chlorine will kill the bacteria in the tank and cause the system to back up. Besides septic tank users, many people are simply turned off by the idea of bathing in and drinking chlorinated water. Fortunately, filtering chlorine from your water is as easy as installing a carbon filter after your chlorinator.
Due to its high absorption rate, carbon can remove high levels of chlorine from water very effectively. A low-cost, low maintenance method of filtering with carbon is to use a carbon backwash filter. These filters will de-chlorinate the water throughout your house and save you money on expensive cartridge filters that can also cause pressure loss through your line - no cartridges means no pressure loss, no maintenance, and no money spent on replacements.
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| CWS Plus Carbon Filter |
See the diagram below for an illustration of how a carbon filter might be installed in conjunction with a chlorination system:
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| Click to enlarge |
For more information, refer to our chlorination guides, available for free on our website:
- How to Use Chlorination Systems for Well and Spring Water
- How to Sanitize Pipes and Distribution Systems with Chlorine
- How to Shock Chlorinate & Sanitize Wells
- How Much Chlorine to Use to Kill Bacteria in Storage Tank (tables)
