Is There Chlorine in Bottled Water?

Single-use bottled water has long been a quick choice for on-the-go hydration. However, expanding discussions about water quality have inspired the public to learn more about what they’re drinking.

For example, is there chlorine in bottled water? Actually, single-use bottled water is less likely to contain chlorine than municipal water. This is because bottlers typically use ozonation rather than chlorination for disinfection, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

That being said, single-serve bottled water products are not necessarily “better” than tap water, especially where practicality, environmental friendliness and overall quality are concerned. It’s important to understand how these water options compare and which is right for your hydration needs.

Here’s a closer look at chlorine levels in bottled water and how tap water compares.

Chlorine in Bottled Water

Compared to municipal tap water, bottled water is less likely to contain chlorine. There are two main factors at play: the water source and the treatment method.

Firstly, it’s important to know that bottlers may use water from a variety of sources, including aquifers, springs or wells. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chlorine isn’t normally detected in the environment — so the water likely doesn’t contain chlorine at this point.

When the bottled water company treats water taken from one of these sources, it can choose not to disinfect the water with chlorine. There are many alternative treatment methods — like ozonation, which uses ozone gas as a microbial agent. According to the FDA, bottlers may prefer this method over chlorination because it doesn’t leave a taste, whereas chlorine can impact the water’s flavor and odor.

This is where municipal water supplies differ. While they might use the same water source, cities often use chlorination as a treatment method, which is why municipal tap water may sometimes have a swimming pool odor or unpleasant taste.

According to Health Canada, bottlers may also take their water from the municipal water supply. In these cases, the water generally undergoes treatment to remove the chlorine. This way, the chlorine has done its work as a disinfectant but doesn’t have to stay in the finished product. However, this only applies to certain types of bottled water; mineral water and spring water aren’t manufactured this way.

Bottled Water Regulations: Chlorine and More

In the U.S., the allowable chlorine level in bottled water is .8 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Canada also regulates bottled water safety, but according to its general guidelines, it doesn’t place specific limitations on chlorine due to low toxicity at the levels found in drinking water.

Bottlers in the U.S. and Canada have to follow these and other regulations for safety, quality and treatment. They may also have to comply with rules established by trade associations like the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), including “self-regulating industry standards” and plant inspection programs.

U.S. Bottled Water Regulations

In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for tap water quality. It establishes standards and regulations for the safety of public water supplies.

However, bottled water is overseen by a different organization — the FDA. That’s because bottled water is regulated as packaged food under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The FDA generally requires bottlers to register as food facilities.

For bottled water, the FDA has established standards for more than 90 substances, including lead, mercury and arsenic. When the EPA sets a new standard, the FDA considers whether it’s relevant for bottled water and sets its own regulations accordingly. For this reason, many bottled water and tap water standards are the same. Sometimes, differences sometimes exist because a substance isn’t found in bottled water or is regulated by another FDA law (like those concerning food additives).

In addition, the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Processes (CGMP) require bottled water companies to maintain sanitary conditions when processing, bottling, holding and transporting products. This includes:

• Preventing contamination
• Using quality control processes
• Testing, sampling and analyzing both source water and final products
• Properly designing plants and equipment
• Maintaining proper bottling procedures and records
• Complying with FDA plant inspections

Canadian Bottled Water Regulations

In Canada, bottled water is regulated as a food and must comply with specific standards and treatment requirements. Health Canada manages the health and safety standards, while the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) handles inspection and enforcement.

The Canadian Bottled Water Association (CBWA) has its own regulations for member companies. In some cases, these standards exceed Health Canada’s. The CBWA states that bottled water doesn’t contain chlorine; it also establishes specific rules for its members, including requirements to use water from approved sources and follow strict hygienic procedures designed to prevent contamination.

According to Canada’s Food and Drug regulations, bottled water labels don’t have to list chlorine in most cases, as long as the chlorine has been:

• Used in water treatment
• Subsequently removed along with chlorine compounds

Municipal drinking water is regulated differently. Health Canada maintains the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, which establish microbiological, chemical, physical and radiological parameters for public drinking water. Individual provinces and territories are responsible for their own water quality but use these guidelines as the basis for their standards.

Drinking Water Chlorination Explained

Although bottled water is highly regulated in both countries, it may not be the most practical choice. For example, bottled water may contain forever chemicals and microplastics; according to Health Canada, it’s may contain bacteria, too. You should also consider how every single-use plastic bottle contributes to overall plastic pollution. Finally, bottled water is generally impractical and costly to provide a family’s drinking water supply, and it doesn’t offer a solution when treated water is needed for cooking, cleaning and bathing.

But is tap water a fitting alternative, given that bottled water is still less likely to contain chlorine? To answer this question, it’s important to take a closer look at municipal water chlorination.

Drinking water treatment plants in both the U.S. and Canada use chlorine for disinfection. According to Health Canada, this has “virtually eliminated waterborne diseases.” This is because chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic substances including bacteria, viruses and microorganisms that can cause immediate illness.

Keep in mind that private wells do not undergo any type of chlorination unless it is part of a treatment initiated by the well owner; private wells aren’t managed by municipalities, so well users are responsible for their own water quality.

In general, public water chlorination brings numerous benefits because it eliminates a broad range of contaminants. But what about the potential health impacts?

Health Canada states that chlorine is unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans and hasn’t observed health effects in humans consuming water even with high chlorine levels (up to 50 mg/L) over a short period of time. The Minnesota Department of Health agrees, saying the chlorine levels used for disinfection are unlikely to cause long-term health effects.

However, according to an analysis published in “ACS Publications,” chlorine may interact with organic matter and create disinfection byproducts (DBPs), which can cause negative health effects after long-term, ongoing exposure. These may include carcinogenic, reproductive and developmental effects; cardiovascular diseases; respiratory problems; and immune system effects. Health Canada notes that you can come into contact with some DBPs when drinking or bathing in affected water or breathing in steam when showering, cooking and more.

Overall, according to Health Canada, the benefits of water chlorination are much greater than the potential health risks. In fact, most people are generally concerned with the more aesthetic impacts — for example, the potential taste or “swimming pool” odor depending on the chlorine level in your tap water. For those problems and more, filtration is the solution.

Treating Chlorine in Tap Water

If you want to avoid single-use plastic water bottles but avoid the potential aesthetic concerns of chlorinated tap water, there’s a simple answer. Filtration reduces chlorine levels and leaves your water tasting and smelling better.

You have multiple options for chlorine treatment:

• The right type of reverse osmosis drinking water filtration system can address multiple contaminants, including forever chemicals and microplastics, while treating chlorine.
• A whole home water filtration system can address chlorine at every tap in your house, meaning you won’t have to worry about swimming pool odors while bathing, cleaning and showering. However, these targeted systems typically won’t also address other potential water issues.
• In some cases, a water softener can treat chlorine, too.

Filtration is an excellent solution because it takes the benefits of tap water and adds an additional layer of reliability. For example, unlike your favorite bottled water brand, your tap can provide a virtually limitless supply of filtered water on demand — all without contributing to plastic bottle pollution.

Get Better Tap Water

While chlorination may not be a top concern for single-use bottled water, there are plenty of other considerations, including practicality, cost, quality and environmental impact. For many people, tap water is a more realistic solution. This is especially true when a filtration solution provides added peace of mind.

To choose the right filtration system for your home, you’ll need to know what’s in your tap water. Take the first step by scheduling your free in-home water test and consultation today.

*Contaminants may not be present in your water.