Why does tap or pool water test positive for chlorine?
Chlorine in tap water or pools is added to kill potentially harmful, disease-causing microbes such as bacteria and viruses. Drinking water, and virtually all pools, are chlorinated and typically test positive for measured germicidal levels of chlorine.Pure Water Needed for Good HealthPure, healthy water is not always easy to obtain. Water may be cloudy and contain dangerous pathogenic microbes. Both filtration and chlorination are used to purify water and protect human health.History of Chlorine UseChloride of lime was used by Semmelweiss in the 19th century to kill harmful microbes on physicians’ hands and prevent disease in patients. In 1908 Jersey City, New Jersey became the first American city to chlorinate municipal water.Pool Chlorination FunctionsBacteria from the skin and the digestive and respiratory tracts of humans contaminates pool water. Adequate chlorination to a final level of 1 PPM usually is sufficient to kill or inactivate most microbes in pools and to protect the hea
