chlorine uses

Free chlorine is part of the chemical mix necessary to maintain a safe pool. While the standard goal is between 1 and 2.5 parts per million, or up to 4 or 5 parts per million if using stabilized chlorines, the levels of free chlorine are sometimes raised to shock or superchlorinate the pool. There are also chemicals that increase the levels of free chlorine.

Blonde hair and chlorine are a bad combination. Blondes who swim regularly know this first hand. When chlorine builds up in your hair, you can find yourself with a head of green hair. There are some home remedies that can remove the green tinge that comes with chlorine buildup. Look in your cupboard for some household ingredients that will remove the green and return your normal color.

Maintaining optimum pool chlorine level is key to pool enjoyment. Too little and you'll be looking at algae and bacterial growth that can cause waterborne illness. Too much and your swimmers will complain of burning eyes, nose and skin. If you simply remember that chlorine is a carcinogen, you'll have all the motivation you'll ever need to test your pool water regularly and keep the chlorine levels within the range of safe and effective. You will need to run tests more frequently during hot weather because that's when chlorine dissipates more quickly.

Shock chlorination is the practice of dropping chlorine directly into a well to kill coliform bacteria and viruses in the water. The chlorine can be liquid bleach or solid chlorine in granule or tablet form. Chlorine tablets, as with other kinds of chlorine, have advantages and disadvantages based on their safety, ease of use and behavior when mixed with water.

In most emergency situations, your local officials and health departments will guide you on how to disinfect water. The two methods generally used consist of boiling water or treating it with chemicals such as chlorine bleach, iodine or bromine. Boil water when possible; it kills all microorganisms that can cause disease. Use chlorine as a second choice; it kills most but not all disease-causing organisms. If possible, use a standard household chlorine bleach of about 5.25 percent chlorine. Bromine works best to disinfect water for swimming and hot tubs rather than for drinking.