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Why is chlorine used?

Water companies have a legal requirement to disinfect all public water supplied. It is essential that drinking water is always safe to drink and contains no organisms that can cause illness. Adding chlorine is one of the most effective methods of disinfecting water supplies.

How long has chlorine been used?

The properties of chlorine have been well known for a long time. However, it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that chlorine started to become popular as a regular form of water purification in Great Britain.

Are the amounts of chlorine regulated?

The Guide to Drinking Water Standards, which Hartlepool Water uses limits the amount of chlorine added to water supply. This ensures that disinfection is achieved while minimising taste and odour issues for customers. Standards of water quality are set in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 (as amended). We typically apply around 0.4 -0.5mg l -1 as free chlorine.

How is chlorine added?

Chlorine is continuously added at the water treatment works as chlorine gas or as a hypochlorite solution. Either way, it is carefully added, using modern automatic equipment, which is continuously monitored.

Our water treatment works are designed to be fail-safe to prevent under or over dosing.

Why is chlorine more noticeable at certain times of the day?

During periods of high water usage, such as first thing in the morning and late afternoon, water may reach you more quickly than at other times. The faster the water reaches you, the more chlorine it will contain.

What if I don’t like the taste or smell?

Our aim is to provide all our customers with a safe and pleasant water supply. We cannot promise that the supply will never taste or smell of chlorine. Sometimes the amount may vary for a number of reasons, and we know that not everyone likes this taste. It is also recognised that different people have different sensitivities to chlorine.

If you fill a jug or bottle with Hartlepool Water tap water, cover it, and leave it in the fridge for an hour or so, this will help reduce the chlorine taste. However, we recommend that this water should not be kept for a long period -water may deteriorate if saved for more than 24 hours.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Chlorine