Notice a swimming-pool-like smell or chemical taste in your tap water? Chlorine and chloramine are commonly used to disinfect municipal drinking water, but their residual taste and odor can be unpleasant. Here is how Berkey® filtration compares, what the test results mean, and how to check what your water utility uses.
Does Berkey® remove chlorine? Berkey® systems equipped with appropriately tested filter elements can reduce chlorine. Big Berkey®, Royal Berkey®, and Travel Berkey® configurations featuring Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements are listed by NSF under NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine reduction and taste-and-odor reduction. Phoenix also has independent laboratory results for chloramine. Black Berkey® Elements have different documentation; Phoenix results and certifications do not transfer to Black Berkey® Elements.
Why Is Chlorine Added to Drinking Water?
Public water utilities use disinfectants as part of their treatment processes and to maintain a disinfectant residual while water travels through distribution pipes. Chlorine helps utilities manage water quality throughout their networks. It is intentionally added for an important public-health purpose, not merely a contaminant introduced by accident.
Some utilities use free chlorine; others use chloramine, usually formed by combining chlorine and ammonia. Chloramine persists longer in pipes, but can require different filtration methods to reduce effectively.
Free chlorine
Commonly associated with a recognizable chlorine taste or smell. Activated carbon is widely used to improve chlorine-related taste and odor.
Chloramine
Used by some utilities for a longer-lasting residual. Standard chlorine-reduction claims do not automatically demonstrate chloramine reduction.
How Much Chlorine Is Allowed in Tap Water?
EPA sets Maximum Residual Disinfectant Levels (MRDLs) for public drinking-water systems. These are regulatory limits, generally evaluated using system monitoring over time; they are not a direct interpretation of a single household odor or test-strip reading.
| Disinfectant | EPA MRDL | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | 4.0 mg/L, as Cl₂ | Regulated residual disinfectant |
| Chloramines | 4.0 mg/L, as Cl₂ | Measured on a chlorine-equivalent basis |
| Chlorine dioxide | 0.8 mg/L, as ClO₂ | Different disinfectant with its own limit |
A detectable chlorine odor does not establish that your utility exceeds its limit. Water temperature, changes in treatment, distance from the treatment plant, and individual sensitivity can affect what you notice.
Source: U.S. EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.
Chlorine Taste and Odor: What Can You Do?
- Identify the disinfectant. Read your water utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or ask whether it uses free chlorine or chloramine.
- Decide what you want to improve. Is your concern taste and odor, a specific contaminant reported by the utility, or water quality throughout the house?
- Choose appropriate filtration. Activated carbon is a common choice for chlorine taste and odor. For chloramine, look for a specific chloramine test result.
- Maintain the filter. Follow the manufacturer's preparation, cleaning, and replacement instructions.
Do not interpret taste as a complete water-quality test. Disinfectant odor does not tell you whether other substances are present. If the water changes suddenly or the utility has issued an advisory, follow your utility's instructions rather than relying on a taste-and-odor filter.
Does Berkey® Reduce Chlorine? Black Berkey® vs. Phoenix
The answer depends on the filter elements actually installed. Different elements may fit the same stainless-steel Berkey® housing, but their laboratory results and certifications are not interchangeable.
| Performance evidence | Black Berkey® Elements | Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine reduction | Refer to Black Berkey®-specific independent testing | Independent laboratory testing plus NSF/ANSI 42 listings for the specified element and equipped system configurations |
| Chloramine reduction | Check separate Black Berkey® documentation | Independent April 2026 Atom laboratory results reported in the source article |
| NSF/ANSI 42 certification | Phoenix certification does not apply | PGF9-2 component and specified Phoenix-equipped systems listed for chlorine and taste-and-odor reduction |
| Replacement choice | Standalone elements unavailable through normal U.S. authorized distribution at the time of this update | Current compatible primary replacement option for supported systems |
What Does the Phoenix Laboratory Report Show?
The supplied article cites an April 2026 Atom laboratory report with the following results. These are independent test findings under the reported conditions, not promises of identical results in every home.
| Substance | Before filtration | After filtration | Conservative reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free chlorine | 2.0 mg/L | Below 0.1 mg/L | Greater than 95% |
| Chloramine | 3.02 mg/L | Below 0.1 mg/L | Greater than 96.69% |
Because the reported output was below the laboratory's reporting threshold, its exact concentration is unknown. The percentages above are calculated conservatively from that threshold. Review the underlying laboratory documentation, rather than comparing percentages from unrelated tests as if they were a head-to-head trial.
Check the filter documentation
Compare independent results and current replacement options for the elements fitted to your Berkey® system.
What Does Phoenix's NSF/ANSI 42 Certification Mean?
NSF/ANSI 42 addresses certain aesthetic effects, including chlorine-related taste and odor. The official NSF listings distinguish the element from complete configurations:
- PGF9-2 component: The Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition filter-cartridge component is listed for chlorine and taste-and-odor reduction. Its NSF listing notes testing to 4,000 liters.
- Phoenix-equipped Berkey® systems: Big Berkey®, Royal Berkey®, and Travel Berkey® configurations featuring Phoenix are separately listed for chlorine reduction and taste-and-odor reduction, with a 1,050-gallon listed service cycle.
These details matter because NSF chlorine certification is not NSF chloramine certification. The chloramine figures in this article come from separate independent testing. Likewise, an NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 lead-content listing concerns product materials, not contaminant reduction.
Check the exact configuration. The certification applies to the models and filter combinations named in the NSF listing. It should not be extended to other Berkey® models, Black Berkey® configurations, or other contaminants without supporting documentation.
Official listings: Berkey® system listings and Phoenix component listings.
What About Disinfection Byproducts?
When disinfectants react with naturally occurring organic matter, they may form disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Two regulated groups are total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and five haloacetic acids (HAA5).
| Regulated group | EPA maximum contaminant level |
|---|---|
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | 0.080 mg/L (80 µg/L) |
| Five haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 0.060 mg/L (60 µg/L) |
Read your CCR for utility monitoring results. A basic household chlorine test does not measure TTHMs or HAA5. These require appropriate contaminant-specific laboratory testing. A filter's chlorine claim also does not establish reduction of every disinfection byproduct; consult the documentation for the substance of concern.
How to Choose Between Chlorine and Chloramine Filtration
If your utility uses chlorine
Look for a chlorine-reduction claim supported by a relevant independent test or recognized certification. Phoenix-equipped Big, Royal, and Travel configurations have the NSF/ANSI 42 listings described above.
If your utility uses chloramine
Look for chloramine-specific laboratory data. Phoenix's cited testing is useful context, but the NSF/ANSI 42 chlorine claim alone is not proof of chloramine performance.
For a countertop gravity-fed option, consider how much water your household uses, the system's refill frequency, and compatibility with the installed elements. Compare Berkey® system sizes and configurations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Berkey® remove chlorine?
Berkey® systems with appropriately tested elements can reduce chlorine. Big Berkey®, Royal Berkey®, and Travel Berkey® configurations using Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ elements have NSF/ANSI 42 listings for chlorine and taste-and-odor reduction.
Does Berkey® remove chloramine?
Performance depends on the installed elements. The independent April 2026 Phoenix test reported greater than 96.69% chloramine reduction under its test conditions. This should not be presented as an NSF chloramine-reduction certification.
Is Phoenix certified to NSF/ANSI 42?
Yes, for the specific claims and products named in NSF's database. PGF9-2 has a component listing, and Phoenix-equipped Big, Royal, and Travel Berkey® configurations have listings for chlorine and taste-and-odor reduction.
Does NSF/ANSI 42 mean the filter reduces all contaminants?
No. Certification covers the claims identified in the individual listing. Chlorine reduction does not automatically establish chloramine, lead, PFAS, or disinfection-byproduct reduction.
What is EPA's chlorine limit for drinking water?
EPA's maximum residual disinfectant level is 4.0 mg/L as Cl₂ for chlorine and also 4.0 mg/L as Cl₂ for chloramines.
Is a strong chlorine smell proof that tap water is dangerous?
No. Odor alone cannot establish whether disinfectant levels exceed regulatory limits. Check your water utility's reports and contact it if you notice a sudden or unusual change.
Will letting water stand or boiling it reduce chlorine?
Free chlorine can dissipate under some conditions, but this approach is less reliable for chloramine and does not establish that other contaminants or disinfection byproducts have been reduced. A documented filtration method is more predictable for taste-and-odor concerns.
Can a TDS meter tell me whether chlorine is present?
No. A handheld TDS meter estimates dissolved ionic content from conductivity; it does not specifically measure free chlorine or chloramine. Use an appropriate disinfectant test instead.
Does a chlorine filter make untreated water suitable for drinking?
No. Chlorine or taste-and-odor reduction claims do not establish suitability for untreated source water. Follow the intended use and tested claims of the exact filter, as well as applicable drinking-water advisories.
Final Thoughts: Match the Filter to Your Water
Chlorine and chloramine serve important roles in public drinking-water treatment, but many households prefer water with less disinfectant taste and odor. The right first step is to identify what your utility uses and then evaluate the relevant filter-specific evidence.
For Phoenix: the cited independent laboratory testing documents chlorine and chloramine reduction, while NSF independently lists specified Phoenix-equipped Berkey® systems for chlorine and taste-and-odor reduction. For Black Berkey®: consult Black Berkey®-specific testing; do not apply Phoenix certification to it.
Explore Berkey® filtration options
Review the testing, compare current system sizes, and choose elements that match your intended drinking-water use.