- Boise, Idaho
- (208) 315-3141
By Elevated H2O & Filtration | Clean Water Blog Series
If your tap water smells like a swimming pool, you’re not imagining things. Chlorine is commonly used by municipal water systems to disinfect drinking water—but what does that mean for your health, your home, and your peace of mind?
Chlorine has been used for over a century to disinfect public water supplies. It’s effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and parasites that could otherwise make people sick. The EPA sets the maximum allowable chlorine level in drinking water at 4.0 ppm (parts per million). However, many city water systems maintain chlorine levels between 1.5 and 3 ppm to ensure safety as water travels through pipelines.
While chlorine keeps water “safe” from pathogens, it doesn’t disappear once it gets to your tap. That leftover chlorine may no longer be necessary by the time it enters your home—but it’s still affecting your water.
While trace amounts of chlorine are deemed safe, long-term exposure through drinking, showering, and even just washing your hands can lead to side effects you may not even realize are connected to your water.
Dry Skin & Hair: Chlorinated water strips natural oils from your skin and scalp, leaving you itchy or flaky after a shower.
Foul Taste & Odor: Many people describe chlorine-rich tap water as tasting like pool water or having a chemical aftertaste.
Respiratory Irritation: Inhaling steam from a hot shower with chlorine can irritate your eyes, throat, and lungs—especially if you have asthma or allergies.
Wear and Tear on Plumbing: Chlorine can corrode rubber seals and fittings over time, which may lead to leaks or appliance damage.
Health Concerns from By-Products: Chlorine reacts with organic matter to form trihalomethanes (THMs), which have been linked to increased health risks with long-term exposure.
Want to see how your water compares?
EPA Legal Limit: 4.0 ppm
Typical City Tap Water: ~2.5 ppm
Filtered Water (with Elevated H2O Systems): ~0.1 ppm
Even if your tap water falls below EPA limits, you could still experience negative effects. Fortunately, there’s a solution.
At Elevated H2O & Filtration, we specialize in designing custom filtration systems tailored to your water’s exact needs. Our chlorine-reducing systems use advanced carbon block technology and multi-stage filtration to reduce chlorine to safe, nearly undetectable levels—without removing healthy minerals.
The result? Better-tasting water, smoother skin, healthier hair, and longer-lasting appliances.
We offer free in-home water testing, so you know exactly what’s in your water before choosing the right system for your home or business.
Don’t wait until your water tastes bad or causes problems—get ahead of the issue with a professional water test and personalized solution.
📞 Schedule your free in-home water analysis today.
🏔️ Serving homes and businesses across the Treasure Valley.
Receive our latest blog posts directly in your inbox!
