All rights reserved. At this time, figure labels indicate location of graphics available only in publication form. Click here for ordering information. Chlorination is a water treatment that destroys disease-causing bacteria, nuisance bacteria, parasites and other organisms.
Chlorination also oxidizes iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide so they can be filtered out.
Disease-causing bacteria can infect humans and animals in several ways. Fecal waste from an infected host frequently carries organisms which cause diseases such as typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, bacillary dysentery, infectious hepatitis and others. Disease-causing organisms are transmitted from host to host in many ways including through a contaminated water supply. There is no substitute for a safe and sanitary water supply. If your water supply becomes contaminated, elimination of the source of contamination is the most permanent solution.