Chlorine in Drinking Water
EPA limits, health effects, and what to do if your water is affected.
🩨 Health Effects
Chlorine at levels used for disinfection is generally considered safe. Above the MCL, it can cause eye and nose irritation and stomach discomfort. Chlorine taste and odor is an aesthetic complaint, not typically a health concern at permitted levels.
📍 Sources in Water
Chlorine is added intentionally to drinking water to kill bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. It is the most widely used drinking water disinfectant in the US and has dramatically reduced waterborne disease since its introduction in the early 1900s.
✅ What To Do
Chlorine smell and taste can be reduced by using an activated carbon filter or by refrigerating water in an open pitcher. No health action is needed at permitted levels. An MCL violation for chlorine means the utility overdosed, which is unusual.
Check your tap water for Chlorine
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had Chlorine violations, plus lead testing results and an overall safety grade.
Search your ZIP code →Data from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). MCLs reflect minimum federal standards; some contaminants may pose health risks below these thresholds.