r diseases were being caused by bacteria and viruses in drinking water. Among the worst of these diseases was typhoid fever (4:74). During the early 1900's, researchers discovered that treating drinking water with chlorine helped to limit "outbreaks of typhoid fever and other acute diseases from microbial contaminants" (8:342). In the United States, the first system for the treatment of drinking water using chlorine was established in 1908. This occurred at the Boonton Waterworks in Jersey City, New Jersey (9:132). Because of the success of the Jersey City system, the practice of chlorination soon spread throughout the country (4:74).
Chlorine is a gas which kills bacteria in water. At a water-treatment plant, chlorine is added during the pre-treatment phase in order to kill bacteria and algae (3:39). Later, after the drinking water has been filtered, chlorine is again added in order to further purify the water. At the same time, various other compounds are added to the water in order to "help keep pipes from corroding" (3:39). Of all the methods for disinfecting water, chlorination is the one that is most often used. In fact, it has been noted that chlorination is "the proven traditional water disinfection technique used worldwide" (2:94). Because of its popularity, chlorination has been used with increased frequency over the years. In addition, treatment plants across the country have
...