Chlorine and Mesa's water
The City of Mesa takes pride in delivering safe drinking
water to its customers. Chlorination, the process of adding
chlorine to the water, is an important part of ensuring drinking
water safety.
Chlorine is added to the water supply for the purpose of
disinfection. Disinfection kills or inactivates harmful
microorganisms and germs which can cause illnesses such as
typhoid, cholera, hepatitis and giardiasis. Other bacteria,
like the ones that cause legionnaire's disease, are destroyed in
the disinfection process. Since chlorine has been added to
public water supplies the threats of water-borne illness and
recreational water illness have been virtually eliminated.
Chlorine is also added for its "residual" properties.
Chlorine remaining in the water supply is available to fight
against potential contamination in water distribution and
storage systems that might enter through leaks and pipe
breakages. Chlorination helps to stop nuisance growths in
wells, water pipes, storage facilities and pipes. This is called
"secondary disinfection."
Chlorine is a naturally-occurring chemical element found
primarily as the chloride ion, a component of the salt that is
deposited in the earth or dissolved in the oceans. Chlorine is
an essential nutrient for plants and animals.
Chlorine kills pathogens such as bacteria and viruses by
bonding with and destroying their outer surfaces and breaking
the chemical bonds in their molecules. When enzymes in the
bacteria and viruses come in contact with chlorine, one or more
of the hydrogen atoms in the molecule are replaced by chlorine.
This causes the entire molecule to change shape or fall apart.
When enzymes do not function properly, a cell or bacterium will
die.
For more information about Chlorine
Contact Jen Hetherington, Regulatory Compliance Program Manager, 480-644-3890
or
jen.hetherington@Mesaaz.gov.
Links:
www.americanchemistry.com