Is the Chlorine in Tap Water Safe to Drink?
That faint swimming-pool smell from your tap? That’s chlorine — and it’s doing an important job. Here’s why it’s there, whether it’s safe to drink, and how to get rid of the taste if you don’t like it.
Why there’s chlorine in your tap water
Chlorine (or chloramine, a longer-lasting relative) is added to public water supplies as a disinfectant. It kills bacteria, viruses, and other microbes — and, crucially, leaves a small “residual” in the water so it stays protected all the way through the pipes to your home. Chlorination is one of the most important public-health advances of the last century; it’s a big reason water-borne diseases are rare in countries with treated supplies.
Is it safe to drink?
Yes. Health authorities including the WHO set safe limits for chlorine in drinking water, and public utilities keep levels well within them. The amount used to disinfect your water is far too low to be harmful to drink — the benefit of killing dangerous microbes vastly outweighs any risk from the chlorine itself.
The trade-off worth knowing about is disinfection by-products (such as trihalomethanes), which form when chlorine reacts with organic matter. Utilities monitor and limit these, and they’re part of the compliance data behind our scores.
How to remove the chlorine taste and smell
If the taste bothers you, it’s easy to reduce — no need to switch to bottled water:
- Chill it. Keep an open jug in the fridge; cold water tastes less of chlorine and it off-gasses over a few hours.
- Let it stand. A pitcher left out for 30–60 minutes loses much of its chlorine (this works for chlorine, less so for chloramine).
- Carbon filter. An activated-carbon jug or faucet filter removes chlorine taste and smell almost completely.
The bottom line
Chlorine in tap water is a feature, not a flaw — it’s what makes the water safe. If you don’t like the taste, filter or chill it. Curious how your area’s water rates overall? Check your country, US state, or French région, and see our methodology for how the scores work.
Frequently asked questions
Is the chlorine in tap water safe to drink?
Yes. The low levels of chlorine used to disinfect public tap water are considered safe to drink by the WHO and health regulators worldwide. It’s what keeps the water free of harmful bacteria and viruses all the way to your tap.
How do I remove the chlorine taste from tap water?
The easiest ways: refrigerate an open jug for a few hours, leave water to stand at room temperature, or run it through an activated-carbon filter (a Brita-style jug or faucet filter). All of these remove most of the chlorine taste and smell.
Why does my tap water smell like a swimming pool?
A strong chlorine or “pool” smell usually means slightly higher chlorine levels — common after your utility flushes the system, or if you’re near the treatment plant. It’s not dangerous, but carbon filtering or letting it stand will fix the odor.