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In France, the chlorine in tap water in order to disinfect. But what effect does it have on your health? What's more, depending on its chlorine concentration, even drinking water is sometimes unpleasant taste and smell. So are there any simple ways of getting rid of it? We tell you all about it!
First of all, let's get to know our subject! Visit chlorine is a chemical element (symbol Cl) which, in its natural state, occurs in the form of gas yellow-green at ambient temperature and pressure, and is distinguished by its pungent smell and its highly reactive capacity. This responsiveness makes it particularly effective as disinfecting agent and whitening.
Note that a chlorine derivative is also very familiar to you in your daily life: the sodium chloride. And yes, the good old table salt !
Since the 19ᵉ century, chlorine has been used in France (mainly in diluted form) as a a major disinfectant in the treatment of drinking water. It eliminates viruses, bacteria, parasites and other pathogens. harmful micro-organisms present in raw water. It is for this reason that it is also used in municipal pools.
The use of chlorine has played a major role in the fight against waterborne diseasessuch as cholera and typhoid.
The chlorine in the water is therefore an essential element to guarantee the safety of the water we drink while it is being transported.
However, despite these advantages, there are concerns about long-term effects consumption ofchlorinated water. More on this later in the article.
In France, the residual rate at any point in the water distribution network must not exceed 0.1 mg/L free chlorinein accordance with the standards set by the health authorities.
It is essential to be familiar with these standards and to check them regularly. tap water quality thanks to information provided by the municipalities.
To check the tap water qualityand therefore its chlorine contentThere are several methods available to the public in France. Data on water quality are public and can be consulted in various ways:
Chlorine, despite its advantages in terms of water safetyis not totally harmless to our health.
Chlorinemute"every time it oxidises (encounters) a bacterium, an alga, a biofilm, a dead leaf... (in fact, any kind of bacteria). organic matter). This transforms it into 500 by-products many of which are dangerous, such as trihalomethanes (THM), or even carcinogenic.
Trihalomethanes can have long-term health effects. Among other things, they are suspected of increasing the risk of bladder cancer and rectum. This finding has given rise to concern and interest in alternative methods of water purification.
What's more, the chlorination of drinking water can lead to digestive problemsand skin irritations with itching and tightness, as well as making hair brittle and dry.
It should be noted that theexposure to chlorine and its effects on health vary considerably from one person to another. For example, children, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions may be more sensitive to chlorine.
Nevertheless, the advantages of using chlorine to prevent water-borne diseases are considered to be higher risksprovided that levels of chlorine and by-products remain within regulated limits.
In addition to its possible long-term health effects, chlorine also has a negative impact on the environment. impact on taste and smell tap water.
A lot of people complain about a strong taste of swimming pool or bleach from their tap water! Unfortunately, this leads them to buybottled water which creates disastrous effects on the environment and whose health safety is more than dubious.
Fortunately, there are several techniques for neutralise the taste of bleach chlorine
At last we're getting to the heart of the matter! While the benefits of chlorine for human health far outweigh any risks, there is still the question of the unpleasant taste and odour it produces. So how do you get rid of it once it has fulfilled its role as a disinfectant?
Firstly, simple methods can be used, such as :
Unfortunately, evaporation only concerns "free" chlorine. (i.e. pure and non-mutated), which is virtually harmless, but not the famous 500 more dangerous by-products, which are counted in what is known as "total chlorine", i.e. the sum of pure free chlorine and transformed chlorine.
Note that these methods have a effectiveness not guaranteed and sometimes random! For better results, you can turn to filtration methods tap water.
The active charcoal filters are widely used to remove chlorine from water. They work by the adsorption process, which retains the chlorine particles.
These filters can be used in water fountainsand filter jugs or fitted directly to your tap. See our article on carbon for more details: https://lavie.bio/charbon-actif-eau-robinet/
However, using an activated carbon system, such as a carafe filter for example, requires special regular filter changes to prevent microbial contamination and ensure continuous chlorine removal. It is therefore important to maintain a routine of filter replacement to guarantee water quality. What's more, the used filters are very difficult to recycle and therefore not very environmentally friendly.
Another disadvantage is that formation of bacterial coloniesmanufacturers are adding products such assilver oxide that you drink with the filtered water.
There are other systems for purifying tap water, These include reverse osmosis, which we describe in detail in our article.
So yes, you can see us coming from a long way off! But if we're tackling this important subject for many French people, it's because we believe we have the right to do so. best solution in order tosimply eliminate chlorine water from your tap with the LaVie water purifiers!
Forget the old filtration systems and the long waits or the recurring expenses for replacement filters. LaVie opens up a whole new era in water purification, combining efficiency, economy and ecology.
To find out more about how LAVIE water purifiers work, click here: https://lavie.bio/notre-technologie/
If the chlorine remains a key player in the production of drinking waterIt's true that its influence on the flavour and taste of our food is a source of great satisfaction. flavour of our daily water can sometimes leave us with a taste of unfinished business.
What's more, over and above these taste considerations, questions are emerging about its long-term repercussions on our well-being, particularly its derivatives produced as the water travels through the pipes.
Fortunately, we have a range of solutions to reduce its omnipresence in our tap water. However, these tap water filtration methods (e.g. activated carbon filter) can sometimes leave something to be desired in terms of their efficiency or their ecological footprint.
But the good news is thata new solution exists with the innovative purification from LaViewhich opens the doors to a purified waterwhere taste (and therefore the pleasure of drinking!) and health go hand in hand.
Chlorine is a chemical element that has been used as a major disinfectant in drinking water treatment since the XIXᵉ century. It eliminates viruses, bacteria, parasites and other harmful micro-organisms present in raw water, thus guaranteeing the safety of the water distributed.
In France, the chlorine content of tap water is regulated to ensure health safety while minimising taste and odour nuisance. The concentration of free chlorine residual is generally maintained at around 0.1 mg/L, which corresponds to one drop of chlorine for approximately 1,000 litres of water.
This concentration is sufficient to ensure effective disinfection, while remaining below the thresholds set by the World Health Organisation, which recommends a maximum limit of 5 mg/L.
Chlorine is used to disinfect tap water, eliminating pathogenic micro-organisms. At regulatory concentrations in France, it is not considered dangerous to human health. However, chlorine can react with organic matter in the water to form by-products, such as trihalomethanes (THMs), which are suspected of increasing the risk of certain cancers. Nevertheless, levels of these by-products in drinking water are strictly controlled and kept below thresholds set by the health authorities to minimise any potential risk.
Chlorine can give tap water an unpleasant taste and smell, often compared to bleach or swimming pool water. Unfortunately, this organoleptic alteration leads some consumers to turn to bottled water.
Yes, innovative technologies such as water purifiers using UV-A lightThese systems eliminate chlorine and its by-products without the need for filters or consumables. These systems expose the water to UV-A light, which neutralises chlorine and eliminates bacteria and viruses, while preserving the beneficial minerals in the water.
Article written on 15/02/2024 by Pascal Nuti - CIO Solable - Passionate about energy, I'm constantly on the lookout for new targets for improvement, exploring cross-disciplinary paths using novel methods.
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