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Why does free chlorine in treated water decline over time?

April 26, 2017chlorine decline Free time treated water

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Why does free chlorine in treated water decline over time?

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Chlorine is an extremely reactive chemical. Right after the sodium hypochlorite is added to the water, chlorine levels decline because the chlorine is reacting with organic matter and microbes. After those reactions are complete, chlorine in water will slowly escape into the air as a gas. This is the reason that free and total chlorine levels slowly degrade over time in a covered (but not sealed) container, and also why we recommend that the pH of the hypochlorite solution be raised to over 11 to extend the shelf-life before it is used.