Chlorine and Chloramine are added to your city water to help control the growth of organisms that can live in water. Some organisms just affect the appearance or odor of water, while others can actually harm you; causing illness, and sometimes even death.
Chlorine is credited by some for improving average longevity for Americans and others in civilized nations around the world. Others accuse Chlorine and its disinfection byproducts of causing bladder, colon and rectal cancer. Research further shows that Chlorine is corrosive to rubbers and certain metals, while Chloramine is even more corrosive towards copper and similar metals.
Love it, or hate it, Chlorine and Chloramine are here to stay. It’s up to you to make your water taste and smell the way that you’d like it to.