Did you know that there are chlorine systems sized for home use and similar gear sized for enormous industrial settings? For centuries, chlorine has been recognized as a compound capable of disinfecting. In the U.S., it was used back in the early 1900s as a water disinfectant, and now around 64% of all water supplies rely on chlorine delivery systems to ensure safe, potable water.
Just how is it that chlorine can be added to water (in systems of any size) to safely treat it and eliminate pathogens and microorganisms? If you look to experts, you would see that there are three forms of chlorine that most often appear in chlorine systems.
- Compressed gas
- NaOCI or sodium hypochlorite solution
- Ca(OCI)2 or solid calcium hypochlorite
How those forms of chlorine are used depends on several things. For instance, you might find that there are vacuum type systems that are used in many industries. They have two or three chemicals used depending upon their application. They can use gas forms of chlorine safely because they are vacuum sealed and can successfully do CT disinfection, handle raw water, deal with the discharge from effluent treatment plants and refineries, and even handle circulating and cool water processes.
You might also see electrical systems that use the water, the sodium forms of chlorine and electricity to generate powerful disinfection. Essentially, it would create a chemical reaction that could be used to generate large amounts of potable water, but it could also be a good resource for those attempting to clean swimming pool water, hospital water, and more. This approach is ideal for sewage treatment, too and also acceptable for settings like the food and beverage industry.
How Much Is Used
Of course, many of us might panic reading that our water can come from gear that is also capable of handling things like sewage effluent. The thing to remember is that any chlorine systems are tasked with one supply. For example, raw water is pumped in from an exterior source and safely processed with chlorine to become potable. Two sources, such as effluent and raw water, are never mixed.
The safe amount of chlorine is four parts per million, and the finest systems can ensure that any water supplies exit the system at that optimally safe and pure level. There are good system options and better system options, and it all depends on your needs. Be sure you choose gear based on the source of the water and what its purpose is after purification.