Q: Paul,

Have you heard much concern expressed about chlorine in tap water? Is this something to worry about? I’ve never bothered to filter tap water I drink and cook with, assuming NYC water is okay. Since I want to give up plastic I now fill up my trusty metal bottle from the tap and never buy bottled water. Recently friends mentioned I should get a filter for not only my drinking water but also for my shower and bathtub because one can absorb lots of chlorine when taking baths and showers. What do you think I should do if anything?
—Newton, New York City

A: Dear Newton,

In terms of how alarmed you should be I certainly would not make a mad dash to the store to buy filters to remove chlorine from your municipal water. However, without being alarmist, I would consider using filters to purify both drinking and bathing water. It’s true that one can absorb chlorine when washing. The American Journal of Public Health found two-thirds of the harmful effects of chlorine in water is due to washing in chlorinated water.

Some respected professionals think exposure to chlorine and chlorination byproducts (potentially cancer-causing chemicals created when chlorine used for water disinfection combines with dirt and organic matter in water) is harmful. New York doctor Nicholas Gonzalez wrote: “Don’t believe tap water is fine; chlorine has been shown to be mutagenic, that is, it disrupts our DNA.”

A 2003 NRDC report revealed other potential contaminants in city water and found overall tap water quality varies widely from city to city. Some cities have excellent tap water; most cities have good or mediocre tap water. Yet the NRDC report says several cities have water that is sufficiently contaminated so as to pose potential health risks to some consumers.

Though immediate danger from NYC tap water is probably not very high, it’s probably good to have water filters in homes with municipal water to be prepared for potential problems with potential disruption in, or variances of purity in centralized water systems.

It’s relatively easy for you to address any concern about water quality. For drinking, something like Brita and Pur faucet-mounted filters or water pitchers with filters are affordable and easy to use. (Pitchers are great for chilling water in the fridge.) However, Brita and Pur don’t remove chlorination byproducts like trihalomethanes or THMs. Aquasana filters reportedly remove THMs.

For bathrooms, there are many options but if you want to ensure that THMs are removed, you should check the product’s performance data sheet. Gaiam’s Bath Ball Faucet Filter attaches simply to tub faucets. Aquasana shower filters are said to remove chlorine and THMs. Methven’s Satinjet Maia shower has an inbuilt Vitamin C filter to eliminate chlorine. The Satinjet Maia also has options for fragrance and essential oil water infusions giving you a whole aromatherapy experience.

Don’t forget if you’re thinking about filtering your water to get low-flow faucets and showerheads so you can reduce water usage. Conserving water will be increasingly important in the future.

Have a question for Paul? We encourage feedback and dialogue about subjects that appear in this column. E-mail Paul at greenadvocate@scheinmedia.com