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The short answer
Chlorine in drinking water is added on purpose to kill germs, and the CDC says chlorine or chloramine at up to 4 mg/L is considered safe and unlikely to make people sick. The bigger health question is disinfection byproducts, which the EPA limits. Many utilities now use chloramine instead, which lasts longer and is harder to remove. To reduce either, use a filter certified under NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine, or for chloramine if your utility uses it.
Why is there chlorine in your water?
Water utilities add a disinfectant to kill germs and prevent people from getting sick, and keep a small amount in the pipes so water stays disinfected on its way to your tap. Some systems switched their secondary disinfectant to chloramine, which provides longer-lasting disinfection, partly to meet byproduct requirements.
Is chlorine in tap water safe?
At normal levels, yes: the CDC says chlorine and chloramine up to 4 parts per million are considered safe in drinking water, and the EPA says water with chloramine that meets its standards is safe to drink, cook with, and bathe in. Above the EPA’s 4 mg/L limit, effects include eye and nose irritation and stomach discomfort, plus anemia for chloramine (EPA). The WHO guideline value for chlorine is 5 mg/L, and some people can taste it at levels as low as 0.3 mg/L.
What are disinfection byproducts?
Byproducts form when disinfectants combine with naturally occurring materials in water. The EPA limits total trihalomethanes (TTHM) to 80 parts per billion and five haloacetic acids (HAA5) to 60 ppb. Drinking water above those limits over many years may cause liver, kidney, or central nervous system problems and increase cancer risk (EPA). The Washington State Department of Health notes there is no conclusive evidence yet linking byproducts in water with cancer or other health effects.
How is chloramine different from chlorine?
- Letting water sit: removes chlorine over a few days, but not chloramine (CDC).
- Boiling: doesn’t remove chloramine (EPA).
- Fish and dialysis: even low levels of either can make fish sick, and dialysis centers must remove both (CDC).
- Filters: chloramine reduction is a separate certified claim from chlorine reduction, and the EPA points to NSF/ANSI 42 chloramine listings. Check which your utility uses in its water quality report.
Which filters are certified for chlorine and chloramine?
| Filter | Chlorine | Chloramine | Certifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| AquaTru Carafe | Certified | Certified | IAPMO R&T |
| Aquasana Claryum (AQ-6300M) | Certified | Certified | WQA |
| Aquasana Clean Water Machine | Certified | Certified | WQA |
| Culligan MaxClear | Certified | Certified | IAPMO R&T |
| GE XWFE and RPWFE fridge filters | Certified | Certified | IAPMO R&T |
| Brita Elite | Certified | No claim | WQA |
Common questions
Does boiling remove chlorine from water?
Letting water stand removes chlorine over a few days, per the CDC. Neither boiling nor standing removes chloramine (EPA). A filter certified for chlorine or chloramine is faster and more reliable.
Is chloramine safe to drink?
Yes, at or below the EPA’s 4 mg/L limit, according to the EPA and CDC. It must be removed for fish tanks and dialysis.
Does a Brita filter remove chlorine?
Yes. The Brita Elite is certified by WQA for chlorine taste and odor, but not for chloramine. See what a Brita filters out.
How do I know if my water has chlorine or chloramine?
Check your utility’s annual water quality report, which community water systems must deliver each year by July 1, or call the utility.
Do I need to filter chlorine for health reasons?
At normal levels, the CDC says it’s unlikely to make people sick. Most people filter it for taste and smell, or to reduce byproducts.
Sources
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