How to remove chlorine from tap water?

Any activated carbon filter removes chlorine effectively — pitchers, faucet-mount, under-sink, or whole-house systems all work. Even letting water sit uncovered for 24 hours allows chlorine to dissipate naturally. For shower water, a carbon or KDF shower filter reduces chlorine exposure to skin and hair.

What is the difference between chlorine and chloramine?

Chloramine is chlorine combined with ammonia. It lasts longer in the distribution system (preventing bacterial regrowth) and produces fewer disinfection byproducts, which is why more cities are switching to it. The downside: chloramine is harder to remove — standard carbon filters work slowly against it, so you need catalytic carbon or a longer contact time. Chloramine is also toxic to fish and dialysis patients.

Does my city use chlorine or chloramine?

About 30% of US water systems use chloramine, and the number is growing. Check your city's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or call your water utility. If you notice your water smells less like a swimming pool but your fish die when you add tap water, you likely have chloramine. Cities like DC, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Denver, and Portland use chloramine.

Does boiling remove chloramine?

No. Boiling removes free chlorine (after about 20 minutes), but chloramine is chemically stable and does not dissipate with boiling or sitting. You need a catalytic carbon filter, reverse osmosis, or vitamin C treatment to remove chloramine. This is one of the key differences between chlorine and chloramine for home treatment.

disinfectant

Chlorine & Chloramine in Drinking Water

Updated: 2026-05-16Written by: TapWaterGuide Editorial Team

What is Chlorine & Chloramine and is it dangerous in tap water? Chlorine & Chloramine is a disinfectant contaminant found in drinking water. The EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) is 4 mg/L. Health effects include taste and odor issues — the most common complaint about municipal tap water and skin and hair dryness, irritation, and exacerbation of eczema and psoriasis from showering. The most effective removal methods are Activated Carbon, Reverse Osmosis, KDF.

Last updated: 2026-05-16 · Source: EPA, WHO, EWG

Regulatory Limits

EPA MCL

4 mg/L

Same MCL for both chlorine and chloramine (as Cl₂). Added intentionally as disinfectants.

EWG Guideline

None

EWG does not set a separate guideline for disinfectants, but flags the byproducts they create (THMs and HAAs).

MCLG (Goal)

0 mg/L

The level at which no known health effects occur

Health Effects

●

Taste and odor issues — the most common complaint about municipal tap water

●

Skin and hair dryness, irritation, and exacerbation of eczema and psoriasis from showering

●

Respiratory irritation from chloramine vapors, particularly in enclosed showers

●

Formation of disinfection byproducts (THMs, HAAs) linked to cancer and reproductive harm

●

Chloramine is toxic to fish, amphibians, reptiles, and dialysis patients

●

Potential disruption of gut microbiome with chronic ingestion

Especially vulnerable: People with skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis), Aquarium and fish owners, Kidney dialysis patients, People with respiratory sensitivities

How to Remove Chlorine & Chloramine from Water

Technology	Effectiveness	Notes
Activated Carbon	high	Standard carbon removes chlorine effectively. CATALYTIC carbon is needed for chloramine — regular carbon is too slow.
Reverse Osmosis	high	RO systems include carbon pre-filters that handle both chlorine and chloramine.
KDF	high	Effective for chlorine. Less effective for chloramine without combined carbon.
Vitamin C (Shower)	high	Ascorbic acid neutralizes both chlorine and chloramine. Used in shower filters.
UV Purification	none	UV does NOT remove chlorine or chloramine.
Boiling	moderate	Boiling removes chlorine (20 min) but NOT chloramine. Chloramine requires catalytic carbon.

Where Chlorine & Chloramine Is Most Common

All US municipal water systems use either chlorine or chloramine — this is universal

Cities using chloramine (harder to remove): Washington DC, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Denver, Portland, Tampa, Austin, Dallas

Cities using chlorine (easier to remove): New York City (switched to chloramine 2012), some smaller systems

Chloramine use is increasing as EPA tightens THM/HAA limits, since chloramine produces fewer byproducts

Common sources include: Intentionally added at water treatment plants to kill harmful bacteria and viruses, Chlorine: traditional disinfectant, easier to remove but forms more THMs, Chloramine: chlorine + ammonia, used by ~30% of US systems, longer-lasting but harder to remove, Residual levels maintained throughout distribution system to prevent bacterial regrowth.

Best Filters for Chlorine & Chloramine Removal

We've tested and compared the top water filters that are NSF-certified to remove Chlorine & Chloramine. Each recommendation is matched to specific contaminant removal performance, not just marketing claims.

View our top chlorine & chloramine filter picks →