If you are concerned about the presence of chlorine in the water you drink, in that of fish or that you use in the garden, there are several simple and quick ways to eliminate this element from the water. Natural ones, such as boiling or evaporating, are useful for small amounts of liquid. However, if you need to de-chlorinate a lot of water, you will probably need to use an additive. In all cases, you can invest in a filtration system to eliminate chlorine at the source and save time.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Declorate the Aquarium or the Fish Pond
Step 1. Install an aerator in the fish pond
If you are trying to de-chlorinate the pond water, use an aerator (such as a sprinkler attached to a pump) to add air to the water entering the pond. Chlorine is volatile and naturally dissipates in open ponds, but with good aeration the process is accelerated considerably.
However, aeration does not work for chloramine, a less volatile additive used by some local water bodies. In that case, you'll need to add a dechlorination agent as well
Step 2. Use a chemical that can remove chlorine and chloramine
You can buy it in pet stores. All products of this type indicate the amount of water they are capable of handling, so read the instructions carefully. To use a dechlorinating agent, you will need to uncork the bottle, turn it upside down and let out the indicated number of drops.
- The water will be immediately ready for use.
- If you are using water for an aquarium with a biological filter, choose a dechlorination product that does not contain ammonia as it may cause problems with the filter.
Step 3. Aerate the aquarium water using a pump
You should always de-chlorinate the water before pouring it into an aquarium, but aerating the tank will help eliminate residual chlorine. Fish aquariums usually need a pump to circulate the water, which is able to aerate it and remove chlorine as a secondary benefit.
Buy the right pump for the size and type of your aquarium and suitable for the fish you will be hosting
Method 2 of 3: Dechlorinating Drinking Water
Step 1. Use an activated carbon filter for drinking water
Activated carbon is a special filter material that removes chlorine, chloramine and organic compounds from water. You can connect some of these filters to your home water supply, or you can buy a pitcher with a similar filter.
- Activated carbon filters remove chlorine and chloramine.
- Choose an activated carbon filter certified by NSF International, a non-profit organization that tests and certifies water filtration products.
Step 2. Install a reverse osmosis filter in your home
Reverse osmosis refers to the process in which ions and particles are removed from the water. You can install these systems directly under the kitchen sink or where the water supply enters your home, so they are very convenient compared to other dechlorination methods. However, they have very high prices, often costing thousands of euros.
In addition, reverse osmosis filters consume a lot of energy and produce copious amounts of wastewater
Step 3. Change the filter according to your needs
Over time, all filters need to be changed. The life span of a filter system depends on its size and frequency of use. Check the manufacturer's instructions to make sure you change the filter at the right time.
Step 4. Boil the chlorinated water for 20 minutes
Boiling creates heat and aeration (thanks to the bubbles), a combination sufficient to remove volatile chlorine in 20 minutes. However, if you are looking to dechlorinate large amounts of water, this method is probably not practical.
Boiling the water for at least 20 minutes will also remove chloramine, which in some areas is added in place of chlorine
Method 3 of 3: Dechlorinating General Purpose Water
Step 1. Let the chlorine evaporate naturally
Fill a bucket or tub with the water to dechlorinate. Avoid covering it and place it in a room with few particles and debris in the air to prevent contamination. Over time, the chlorine in the water will evaporate from exposure to the sun and air.
- The time it takes to dechlorinate the water using this method depends on the volume of chlorine you try to remove and the amount of direct sunlight illuminating the water. Also, the wider and lower the container, the faster the process will be.
- Check the water regularly using a chlorine test kit to determine the amount of this element in the water.
- Evaporation does not remove chloramine, which is used in place of chlorine in some aqueducts. Furthermore, this method is not recommended for drinking water, because the risk of contamination is high.
Step 2. Add 1 teaspoon of ascorbic acid to every 4 liters of water
This substance (also known as vitamin C) neutralizes chlorine. Just pour it into the water and mix. This method works best for dechlorinating water for use in watering plants or in hydroponic systems.
- Ascorbic acid is inexpensive and can be found in many pet stores.
- Ascorbic acid removes both chlorine and chloramine. Also, it shouldn't significantly alter the taste of the water if you're going to use this method for drinking water.
Step 3. Use ultraviolet light to dechlorinate the water
Bring the liquid as close as possible to a UV lamp. The precise duration of exposure depends on the amount of water being treated, the power of the lamp you are using and the presence of organic chemicals in the water.
- Typically, you should treat water that contains chlorine with a UV lamp at a wavelength of 254 nanometers, with a radiant energy intensity of 600mm per square centimeter.
- UV lamps eliminate chloramine as well as chlorine. This process can also be used for drinking water.
Advice
- You can buy dechlorinated (filtered) water at the supermarket.
- Many dechlorination methods do not completely eliminate chlorine. Various fish and plant species tolerate chlorine differently, so find out how much chlorine is acceptable for your purposes, then use a chlorine meter to check the water regularly if you are concerned.
