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Why is there Residual Chlorine in Water? How is it Monitored?
Date:2025-10-23 Browse: 16

In the water we use in our daily lives, residual chlorine is always present. So what is the significance of its existence? Why is there residual chlorine? And how do we monitor whether the residual chlorine in the water exceeds the standard? Don’t worry, in this article, we will explore the significance of residual chlorine and how to monitor it together with Hangzhou Modi.

 

Residual chlorine is a special indicator in water. It is used for disinfecting sewage and wastewater, primarily to eliminate pollutants such as bacteria. The amount of chlorine consumed depends on the level of pollutants, and the excess chlorine left after disinfection is referred to as residual chlorine. However, this amount cannot be too high, as excessive levels can lead to pollution from total residual chlorine.

In practical daily life, various reasons may cause the chlorine in water to be either depleted or too high, thereby affecting our normal water usage. For example, in the case of tap water, which is common in our lives, the pipeline network may be too long, or the pollution level may be too severe. If the chlorine added is insufficient to eliminate all the pollutants in the water, additional chlorine needs to be introduced. If the personnel add chlorine arbitrarily, it can easily lead to excessive residual chlorine. In such cases, organic matter reacts chemically with the residual chlorine in the water, which may, in mild cases, produce a noticeable odor, and in more severe cases, generate toxic or carcinogenic organic compounds.

Total residual chlorine is the collective term for free residual chlorine and combined residual chlorine. Free residual chlorine can also refer to Cl₂, HOCl, and OCl⁻ in aqueous solutions. It is a component of residual chlorine with strong oxidizing properties and effective disinfection capabilities. On the other hand, combined residual chlorine forms when ammonia is present in water, as chlorine reacts with it to produce chloramines. Comparatively, chloramines have weaker bactericidal effects than chloric acid and can also produce odors. Drinking water is monitored for residual chlorine (free residual chlorine), while Medical Wastewater Online Monitoring for total residual chlorine.

In fact, whether it’s drinking water or wastewater discharge, as long as chlorine disinfection or sterilization is involved, monitoring is necessary. For drinking water, residual chlorine online analyzers are used for detection. For other cases, such as the medical wastewater mentioned above, the RCl900 Total Chlorine Online Monitor is employed to monitor the residual chlorine levels in real time. If any issues are detected, they must be addressed promptly.