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essential2health
January 3, 2009
A Century of Chlorination
For an industry expert’s perspective on the 100th anniversary of the chlorination of U.S. drinking water, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) interviewed Dr. James P. Brennan, Technology Manager with Arch Chemicals in Smyrna, Ga., who has worked extensively with water chlorination chemistry for more than 30 years.
“The chlorination process has long been the conventional method of disinfection for municipal water and wastewater, due to its low chemical cost and consistent performance,” he says.
Beyond drinking water, chlorine disinfection is an important component to healthy swimming pools, schools, daycare centers, and restaurants. As Brennan puts it, chlorine and the chlorination process are used for everything from preventing the transmission of disease to reducing spoilage in freshly harvested fruits and vegetables.
“Chlorine had a marvelous effect on public health during the first 50 years of use,” he
says. “Through the chlorination process, the average lifespan went from 49 to 70 years.” read more...
Learn more about chlorine chemistry.
