Chlorine is a popular choice for treating water, but did you know that there are multiple ways to use chlorine to accomplish this feat? In fact, pure chlorine is almost never used for water treatment. Instead, these three chlorine products have become the most common options to disinfect and treat water for public and industrial use.
Chlorine Gas
Chlorine gas is a very toxic substance when not dissolved in water. It isn’t safe for people to handle for long periods of time, and it requires a lot of safety procedures to use in treatment plants. However, it is a very good disinfectant for water. Once it enters the water, it is no longer toxic. The reason that this is still used, despite the toxicity, is because it is the most affordable way to use chlorine.
Sodium Hypochlorite
The next type of chlorine products used for water treatment is called sodium hypochlorite products. This is a very short-lived compound that is added to water to help reduce toxins and change the pH of the water. This is the same compound that is sold to consumers as “bleach” in stores, and many industrial treatment plants prefer it because a little goes a long way. You can treat more water with less sodium hypochlorite than any other chlorine product.
Calcium Hypochlorite
The third most common type of chlorine products used to treat water is chlorine hypochlorite products. These are created from toxic chlorine gas, making it less toxic to handle. The gas becomes a solid form, which is white and extremely smelly. While it’s less toxic to handle in this form, calcium hypochlorite is the most combustible of all chlorine products. It has to be stored very carefully away from anything that could potentially start or fuel a fire. It is added to residential water more often than other products, and it both gets rid of toxins and help to change the pH of water.
Why Are Chlorine Products So Common?
The main reason for using chlorine products to treat water is that they can reduce toxins, and provide other benefits, in the most affordable way. Chlorine products help control pH; they minimize color, they get rid of things like too much iron or manganese, and more. If you are interested in learning more about our chlorine products, contact Capco Water Solutions today.