Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - chlorine in water

Hi,

Our water is supplied by the township: private wells maintained by the township. Ever since we moved into our home in June 2004, I have smelled chlorine whenever the water is run for a substantial period of time (doing dishes, filling the washing machine, filling the bathtub, etc.). Although I don't have the full report, the tech who came today to test our water told me that the chlorine residual is high for a residence. He said he typically measures chlorine levels in the range of 0.2 to 0.4 mg/l, and ours was measured at 1.5 mg/l. I contacted our township, and they said our particular development has residual chlorine levels in the range of 0.4 to 1.8 mg/l. I'm not sure why ours is so high, or what to do about it. I understand that the township needs to chlorinate the well water to eliminate bacteria, but I don't like exposing my family to potentially high levels of chlorine on a daily basis for an extended period of time. Although we drink bottled water, I'm still concerned about chlorine exposure through baths and showers. After reading several posts on this site, I'm not sure if a whole house filter is right for this situation. Any suggestions? Thanks.

No, removing chlorine on a whole house basis isn't the right choice. Removing it with showerhead and a drinking water filter is but. it's not the chlorine as much as any chlorine disinfection by-products (DBPs) you should be conecerned about. They are clled THMs (trihalomethanes) and carcinogenic.

Gary
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Thanks for your reply Gary, it is really appreciated.

After several emails back and forth with the township director of operations (water and wastewater department), we have found out that the total system furthest point HAA was 3.8 ppb and the total THM was 6 ppb. We were not planning on testing for VOC's in our house. I am under the impression that the township results are below any levels for which I should be concerned, is this right?

Which brings me back to finding a filter which will best suit our chlorine levels. Or is there one which would address the chlorine and the THM's? I have small children who could potentially drink out of every faucet in the house (kitchen sink, bathroom sink, bathtub). Plus the chlorine in the laundry water is fading every piece of clothing we own. I would like to filter the chlorine everywhere. Do I have to put individual filters in all those spots? Would you walk me through why a whole house filter wouldn't work? And what is our best choice? Thanks again.

We have the SAME issue, I think. Our water isn't very hard. Gary, it measured around 5 or 6 - do you think this warrants a softener, or do we just need to worry about the chlorine. I too would like it filtered out of everywhere, particularly the laundry. Your help is appreciated!

As far as "needing" a softner, only you can answer that.....the whole house carbon is an option....there are many out there, pick one that suits you....whatever you do, in my opinion, it is not a good idea to purchase a combination carbon and softner, UNLESS, the tanks are seperate....on a single tank combo system, everything inside the tank must be replaced when it is time to change the carbon.....some companies will "warranty the resin for life", then charge you for the resin when the carbon has to be changed.....which it all does......but there are many models, automatic backwash, twist timer backwash, and some that don't backwash at all, having no moving parts.....pick what YOU want!!!