If your tap water sometimes smells a bit like a swimming pool, you're not imagining it. Chlorine is added to Canberra's drinking water on purpose. It's one of the main reasons the water is safe, and also one of the main reasons people start looking at filters.
Why chlorine is in the water
Water leaves the treatment plant clean, but it then travels a long way through reservoirs and pipes before it reaches your tap. A small, controlled amount of chlorine is kept in the water for that whole trip so bacteria can't grow in the network. Water utilities across Australia do this, and the levels are set well within the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Why some homes notice it more
- Distance from the plant. Homes closer to the start of the network often get water with a little more chlorine left in it.
- Temperature. Warm water lets chlorine escape as gas, so a hot shower can smell more strongly than a cold glass.
- Network work. Maintenance and flushing can briefly change taste and smell.
- Sensitivity. Some people simply taste it more than others, especially in tea, coffee and plain water.
Is it harmful?
At the levels used, chlorine in drinking water is considered safe. What people tend to object to is the taste and smell, the dryness some notice after showering, and the by-products that form when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. Once the water is safely in your house, the chlorine's job is done, and taking it out is a reasonable choice.
What actually removes chlorine
Activated carbon
Carbon is the workhorse. As water passes through, chlorine is broken down on the surface of the carbon. A good-quality carbon stage, especially one blended with KDF media, handles chlorine very effectively.
Jug and tap filters
These use small amounts of carbon and help with taste at one tap. They need frequent changes and do nothing for showers, baths or the washing machine.
Whole house filtration
A whole house system puts a larger carbon stage on the water main, so every tap and shower gets chlorine-reduced water. This is the option that makes the difference people notice in the bathroom.
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis units include carbon pre-filters, so their drinking water is chlorine-free too, along with much lower levels of dissolved salts and fluoride.
A quick way to check your own water
Run the cold tap into a clear glass and smell it straight away, then leave a second glass on the bench for an hour and compare. If the fresh glass smells noticeably stronger, you're picking up chlorine. For a proper reading, our free in-home water test measures it at your tap, along with hardness, pH and dissolved solids.