|  | Diet Nutrition | Nutrition

Liquid Chlorine Water Treatment

Safe and clean drinking water is lacking in many parts of the world. People living in these areas are more susceptible to waterborne diseases. This is caused from the presence of various bacteria, viruses, and other harmful waterborne microorganisms that can cause life-threatening diseases such as cholera and typhoid. It is vital to treat water with a good disinfectant before it can be considered potable. Liquid chlorine is among the cheapest and most effective disinfectants. It is the disinfectant of choice for treating water for drinking purposes.

  1. Disinfection Applications

    • Treatment of drinking water is the main application of liquid chlorine. Chlorine’s biocidal activity kills the vast majority of disease-causing bacteria and fungi in water. Liquid chlorination is also used in other sectors of the water filtration industry such as cooling tower water disinfection, sewage water disinfection, and mussel control.

    Mechanism

    • Chlorine is the biggest enemy of bacteria and viruses in water. Chlorine, a high electronegative element, can give off or take electrons from the substances it reacts with. Chlorine changes the structure of amino acids or nucleic acids of viral or bacterial cells, causing several cellular processes to be interrupted. Microorganisms can no longer produce proteins necessary for the sustenance of life. Chlorine kills the disease-causing microbes by preventing protein formation.

    Swimming Pool Water

    • The water in a swimming pool can easily get contaminated with various harmful bacteria and other microorganisms, since it is used by many people who might be carrying these microbes on their bodies. If the water is not disinfected, this can lead to various kinds of rashes and allergies in those using the pool. It can also lead to illnesses, and may even prove fatal if the water is ingested while swimming. For these reasons, it is imperative that the water in the pool is pure and free of harmful microorganisms. Liquid chlorine is the default choice to disinfect water in the pool, since it is easy to use and handle.

    Advantages

    • There are various other methods available to disinfect water, but liquid chlorine offers more advantages compared to any other disinfectant. In drinking water, liquid chlorine is added as a part of the water treatment process. It is quite easy to apply, and once mixed in water at the treatment plant, small amounts of chlorine remains in the water. This takes care of any contamination that might happen in the distribution system during transit from the treatment plants to the taps.

    Disadvantages

    • There is a minor downside to using liquid chlorine as a disinfectant in water. Water usually contains organic matter such as dead and decaying leaves. Chlorine reacts with this organic matter, and the resulting chemical reaction creates a group of harmful chemical by-products such as chloroform. The amount of chloroform created will dependent on many factors, including the season and the source of water. However, the benefits accrued with liquid chlorination of water far outweigh the risk factors associated with chlorine by-products.

Nutrition - Related Articles