If you’ve ever poured a glass of tap water in Houston and thought it smelled like a swimming pool, you’ve already met chlorine.

Ewwww is all I can think to myself as I write this blog…
I (Kasidy) have been lucky enough to grow up in a home with filtered water. For the better part of my 35 years, my family has been delivering clean water to Houston homes and it started with our own.
The benefit.. I didn’t know how bad water could smell until I went to college.
This is all besides the point other than to say, if you’re dealing with chlorine, I get it and we’re here to help!

Houston’s water utilities, like many across the U.S., add chlorine to disinfect water before it reaches your home.

Just to be clear, it is seen as a necessary step for public health, but it’s not without side effects.

Why Chlorine Is Added to Water

Kills Germs: Chlorine is extremely effective at eliminating bacteria and viruses
Protects Water in Transit: It ensures water stays safe while traveling through miles of pipes
Required by Law: The U.S. EPA mandates residual disinfectant in treated water

On the surface, chlorine sounds like a good thing—and in many ways, it is. But once it arrives at your home, the very chemical designed to protect your water supply can cause new problems.

The Downsides of Chlorine in Your Water

You’ve probably already experienced these and it’s likely the reason you’re reading this in the first place…

Taste and Smell: pool-like odor
Skin and Hair Irritation: dry skin, dulls hair, and aggravated eczema
Appliance Wear: appliances corrosiding over time, shortening the lifespan of rubber seals, gaskets, and plumbing
Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs): not to get super-sciencey on you, but when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water, it creates DBPs such as trihalomethanes (THMs), which are linked to long-term health concerns

So while chlorine is great at protecting water on the way to your home, it’s not something you want to live with once it’s inside your home.

How to Remove Chlorine from Houston Water

Fortunately, chlorine is one of the easiest contaminants to reduce with the right system:

Whole-Home Carbon Filters: These remove chlorine at the point of entry, protecting every faucet, shower, and appliance
Carbon Filter: Highly effective at improving taste and smell
Reverse Osmosis (R.O.): For drinking water, R.O. eliminates chlorine and dozens of other contaminants at the tap

The key is choosing a system designed for Houston water—not a one-size-fits-all filter.

Why Environmental ProTech

For over 30 years, we’ve helped Houston families eliminate chlorine and enjoy water that tastes, smells, and feels better. We don’t just install filters, we start with a free water test, explain what’s in your water, and build a solution around your family’s needs. We also have hundreds of raving google reviews from happy homeowners!