Chlorination Effectiveness
Chlorination is a dynamic chemical process. Its effectiveness is influenced by a number of
factors. Proper chlorination requires frequent monitoring of the solution and a thorough
understanding of the factors involved. These factors include the pH of the solution,
chlorine concentration, water temperature, amount of organic matter present, exposure
time, and the growth stage of the pathogens present.
Solution pH
The pH of a solution is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity. A solution that is neutral
(neither acid nor alkaline) has a pH of 7.0. Solutions with pH numbers less than 7.0 are
acid; the lower the number, the greater the acidity. On the other hand, the greater the
number above 7.0, the more alkaline the solution. A change of one pH unit indicates a tenfold
change in acidity or alkalinity.