Swedish scientists from Lund University have refuted the idea that chlorine is necessary for water purification.
Publika.az informs that the research results were published in “Npj Clean Water” magazine. The results showed that after the chlorine was removed from the treatment system, the number of predatory but harmless bacteria colonies increased in the samples and they engulfed most of the other microorganisms.
Water is often purified in several stages. Depending on the type of company, different types of filters and UV light are used, but the final step is almost always the addition of chlorine. Varberg, the city where the study was conducted, stopped adding chlorine to its water supply in 2020 after installing new filters that effectively prevent the entry of harmful microorganisms from lakes and groundwater.
The team collected water samples over six months and analyzed them before and after stopping the use of chlorine. The entire local microbiome was identified based on bacterial DNA. A year later, the authors took new samples to determine how the microbiome had changed. It turned out that in the third month without chlorine, the number of some bacteria decreased dramatically. At the same time, the number of predatory Bdellovibrio bacteria, which is harmless to humans but destroys other microorganisms, has increased. It is likely that this colony was previously hidden in the biofilm.
Experts have come to the conclusion that it is possible to get chlorine-free, safe and clean drinking water. Trials have not shown an increased risk in humans, but more research will be needed for definitive results.
Aytan Maftun
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