Many water filter bottles can safely remove chlorine from drinking water. Water filter bottles that use activated carbon and/or ion exchange are the most effective, and can usually remove more than 95% of the chlorine.
The US Environmental Protection Act (EPA) recommends the use of chlorine for water disinfection in public water systems. While chlorine is a powerful disinfectant that can kill most harmful microorganisms from your water supply, it does come with its own downsides. Thankfully, there are several types of water filter bottles that can remove chlorine and give you clean, fresh water to drink.
In this post, we explore how water filter bottles remove chlorine and discuss the best water filter bottles available today that can remove chlorine, including their capacity, percentage of chlorine removed, and their costs.
Chlorine in water
We add chlorine (or chlorine containing substances, like chloramine or sodium hypochlorite) to water at levels that are safe for humans to drink but toxic to disease causing microorganisms.
Chemically speaking, chlorine is a highly reactive gas that is soluble (dissolves) in water. When it comes in contact with water, it often reacts and forms chemical bonds with oxygen, which results in powerful negatively charged chemical substances.
These substances can break chemical bonds of organic molecules, effectively killing most major microorganisms in the process.
As a result, chlorine is the most commonly used chemical water disinfectant in the world today, including your local water treatment facility.
Even after the water is disinfected at the facility, however, they add an additional amount of chlorine called residual concentration. This additional chlorine is supposed to continue disinfecting water all the way till it reaches your home.
3 Reasons why you should remove chlorine from water
As great as chlorine is at removing micro-organisms, it can sometimes result in the following disadvantages.
1. Smell and Taste
The most common reason why people want chlorine removed from their water is the bad smell and/or taste.
Chlorinated water smells and tastes different from untreated water. While some people grow to like this taste and smell over time, many don’t – to the point they start drinking less water because of the chlorine smell. It usually gives water a chemical-like taste.
The water filter bottles that we are recommending in this post will be particularly useful if it is the taste or smell of your water you are wanting to fix.
2. Health Hazards
Even at lower chlorine levels, some people may experience irritation or burning in the eyes, nose and throat.
At higher concentrations, or with longer duration of exposure, chlorine may cause increased rates of breathing, coughing, or even trigger asthma.
However, you should note that it is rare to get these effects from regular levels of chlorine that you get in your water.
3. Dry skin and hair and faded clothes
Although this is not associated with chlorine in drinking water, chlorinated water can cause your hair and skin to dry up if you are using it for showering.
Chlorine also has a mild bleaching action, so this may fade the color of your clothes over time.
If you are concerned about dry skin or brittle hair from chlorine in your shower water, also read about shower filters that remove chlorine here.
What level of chlorine is safe to drink?
A chlorine concentration up to 4 milligrams or liter, the equivalent of 4 parts per million (ppm) is considered safe to drink according to the EPA.
How Water Filter Bottles Remove Chlorine
Water filter bottles are portable water filtration systems that you can use to purify water on-the-go. These bottles generally use a combination of different filtration media like activated carbon or ion-exchange resins to remove impurities from water.
Water filter bottles with activated carbon and/or ion-exchange resin components can remove chlorine.
Activated carbon, in particular, is created by treating carbon with oxygen, which makes it more porous and increases its surface area several fold. Due to the large surface area, a large number of chlorine molecules (and other contaminants) can essentially stick to the carbon molecules.
This process of removing impurities by attracting and holding them onto the surface of a material is called adsorption.
In the case of water filter bottles, activated carbon attracts and holds onto chlorine molecules, removing them from the water.
Most water filter bottles have some sort of activated carbon layer inbuilt into their filtering mechanism, but it is important to note that not all water filter bottles are created equal.
When shopping for a water filter bottle, you need to look for one that specifically mentions that it can remove chlorine. Also, be sure to check the manufacturer’s specifications to see how much chlorine the bottle can remove.
Water Filter Bottles That Remove Chlorine
With the basics covered, let’s take a look at some of the best water filter bottles that can remove chlorine.
1. Clearly Filtered Stainless-Steel Water Bottle
We recommend the Clearly Filtered Insulated Stainless Steel Filtered water bottle.
Clearly Filtered is a popular brand in the water filtration industry, which makes sense considering the consistent quality they deliver with their products.
It has a 20oz capacity and can remove up to 99.5% of chlorine from your drinking water.
Along with chlorine, the filter can also remove fluoride, heavy metals and PFOS, giving you clean and safe water to drink.
Their insulated stainless 1 liter steel water bottle uses a proprietary “Affinity” filtration system that includes activated carbon and other filtration media to remove up to 99% of more than 220 impurities, including chlorine, from water.
The bottle features an attractive, sturdy build and comes in several clean, aesthetic colors.
2. Epic Nalgene OG Ultimate Travel Filter Bottle
The Epic Filters’ Nalgene Ultimate OG filter, as the name implies, is a fantastic option for those looking to remove chlorine from their water.
This bottle filter by Epic can remove up to 96.8% of chlorine, along with other contaminants like bacteria, viruses, cysts, lead, mercury, and pesticides.
This makes it particularly suitable for campers and backpackers.
Their filter uses a combination of activated carbon and ion-exchange resins to remove impurities from water, including chlorine.
The company is also environmentally conscious and regularly donates its profits for environment protection.
3. LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle
LifeStraw is a brand name that needs no introduction – but did you also know that it removes chlorine and not just bacteria and other bugs?
In fact, the LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle is one of the more budget-friendly options in our line-up today, also designed with outdoor enthusiasts and travelers in mind.
Their filter uses a two-stage integrated filtration system that includes activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane to remove impurities from water, including chlorine, as well as other contaminants like bacteria and protozoa.
Made of 100% BPA free material, the Lifestraw Go filter bottle is lightweight, compact and comes in a variety of color options.
The only downside for this bottle is the relatively low capacity of just 0.65 liters.
4. GRAYL GeoPress Water Purifier Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress 24oz Water Purifier Bottle is one of the most popular and highest rated water filter bottles available today, despite the somewhat expensive price. This really says a lot about the quality that GRAYL is providing with each bottle they sell.
Featuring a unique water filtration system that uses a ‘press action’ to purify water, the filter can remove chlorine, as well as other contaminants like viruses, bacteria, and protozoa.
Overall, the GRAYL GeoPress Water Purifier is a great option for those who want a quick, effective and convenient water filter bottle.
5. Brita Premium Filtering Water Bottle
Brita is a well-known brand in the water filtration industry, and their 26oz Premium Filtering Water Bottle is a popular choice for those looking to remove chlorine from their water. In fact, Brita is most known for its ability to remove chlorine more than any other contaminant.
Like with most Brita products, what you get with this bottle is a highly efficient filter vetted by thousands of other users at fairly affordable prices.
The filter uses activated carbon to remove impurities from water, including up to 95% of chlorine, as well as the contaminants that can give water a bad taste or smell. The Brita Premium Filtering Water Bottle is also stylish and sleek, perfect for those looking for an easy, budget-friendly water filter bottle.
6. Philips Water GoZero Filter Bottle
Philips has established itself as the go-to brand when it comes to delivering quality products at budget-friendly prices. The GoZero water filter bottle is a great example of that, giving you both function and aesthetics at an affordable price.
This bottle uses an activated carbon filter to remove chlorine from water, though it does not claim to reduce minerals or total dissolved solutes from water.
Considering the sturdy build, the cost, and the one year replacement warranty, this is a great option for anyone who wants to use their water filter bottle particularly for removing the chlorine smell/taste.
7. CamelBak Eddy+ Water Filter Bottle
The CamelBak Eddy+ Water Bottle with Filter is another good choice for those looking for a water filter bottle that is easy to use and convenient to carry.
This filter features two different mechanisms- a hollow fiber membrane to remove pathogenic organisms, and then an ion-exchange filter to remove chlorine and lead.
Although the company does not explicitly mention the proportion of chlorine that it can remove, it does state that it removes chlorine. Plus, user reviews suggest that the bottle works well enough for you to not notice any chlorine-like smell or taste after the water has been put through the filter.
8. Aquasana Active Filtered Water Bottle
The Aquasana Active Filtered Water Bottle is made of stainless steel and comes with a silicone sleeve, giving it a functional yet premium look.
It uses a patented filtering technology using activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange resins and an electrostatically charged ‘non fiber membrane’ technology to remove impurities from water, including 99% chlorine, lead, chlorine-resistant cysts, and bacteria.
At the same time, it can retain useful minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium, meaning your water is both healthy and has a natural taste to it.
Considering the durability, efficacy and overall quality, this bottle offers one of the best value-for-money of all the products in our line-up today.
9. Sawyer Products Select S3 personal Water Filter Bottle
The Sawyer Products Select S3 Water Filter Bottle is a safe, reliable and effective option for those looking to remove chlorine from their water.
This 20oz filter bottle uses a combination of its unique ‘foam adsorption’ technology and a 0.1 micron absolute hollow fiber membrane to remove impurities from water, including up to 99.99% of chlorine, along with other contaminants like bacteria, protozoa, and viruses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can reverse osmosis (RO) filters remove chlorine?
Reverse osmosis filters can efficiently remove chlorine from your water supply. RO filters use a semi-permeable membrane to filter water, the pores of which are small enough to sufficiently filter out chlorine.
As such, RO systems are often used for dechlorination in large-scale settings, though they may also be suitable for home use.
Is Chlorine toxic?
At normal levels, like that in your home’s water supply, chlorine is harmless and not toxic.
In fact, chlorine is a common element found in your body and also in most of the foods you eat, including salt.
Chlorine can, however, become toxic at higher doses. This is rarely seen, usually when someone uses chlorination methods improperly, or directly consumes chlorine containing products like chloramine.
Should I remove chlorine from my tap water?
Whether or not you want to remove chlorine from your tap water is a personal choice. Most people that remove it do it because they don’t like the taste or smell.
The level of chlorine in your tap water is likely low enough to not cause any serious adverse effects. In fact, the chlorine is there to prevent bacteria and other microorganisms from establishing and making you sick.
The only downside therefore is the taste and smell. You may choose to filter out chlorine if you want to avoid the taste, but it’s safe to drink chlorinated water as it is in most cases.
Conclusion
The biggest downside to having chlorine in your water is usually the smell and the taste of chlorine, so whether or not you want to remove chlorine from your water is often just a matter of personal preference, rather than a necessity. If you do want to remove chlorine, however, it is important to have the right tools to do so. A water filter bottle with an activated carbon/ion exchange component can be a convenient and effective way to do this.
