Chlorine tablets are the most common choice employed to treat water in most instances, whether a pool or a small water storage area. An issue that users often face is that chlorine tablets leave residue. In what follows, we will inform you why residue is created and how to solve it.

What is the Residue that Chlorine Tablets Leave Behind?
The residue from chlorine tablets is a complex mixture of many compounds. The inorganic salts are the major components. For instance, most chlorine tablets include stabilizers in the form of cyanuric acid in order to avoid decomposition of chlorine too quickly in light. When the chlorine tablet dissolves, stabilizers and additives in them don’t fully react or dissolve in water and leave behind a powdery or granular residue. And , when the chlorine acts on organic material in the water (e.g., bacteria, algae or sediment), it forms a chain of by-products. Some of the by-products are water-insoluble and also form part of the residue. In a swimming pool, the residue is a film on the walls and bottom of the pool, and also in the filter system of the pool.
Why do Chlorine Tablets Leave a Residue?
There are numerous reasons why chlorinating tablets leave residue.
First, the make-up of the chlorine tablet itself plays a part. As already mentioned, stabilizers and effectiveness-enhancing additives such as cyanuric acid and other chemicals are not fully oxidized or consumed in going through disinfection. Those residues precipitate and form a residual.
Second, the organic content of water being treated may also impact the formation of residue. The water that is rich in organic matter or minerals will respond more complicatedly with chlorine. Hard water that is rich in calcium and magnesium will respond with the ingredients of the chlorine tablet in a way such that more compounds will be precipitated and consequently increase the content of residue.
How to Solve Residue Problem?
A remedy for the residue problem is using the right selection of chlorine tablets in conjunction with better water filtration.
- If chlorine tablets are used, choose the ones with fewest additives. There are some “no residue” or “low residue” chlorine tablets which may be obtained from chlorine tablet suppliers. These are tablets for which the non-chlorine content has been minimized to the barest essentials, reducing the likelihood of residue. These tablets disinfect well and create fewer unwanted byproducts.
- Improvement in water filtration is also necessary. Having a good filtration system installed can work wonders in reducing the impact of debris. A multi-stage filtration system that includes a cartridge filter and an activated carbon filter for a pool can be highly effective. The fine mesh pattern of the cartridge filter can catch large debris particles. The activated carbon filter, on the other hand, removes dissolved organic matter and some of the chemical byproducts that form debris. Periodic backwashing of the filter can flush out trapped debris and enable it to keep working.
- In big or industrial water treatment systems, the use of advanced filtration systems such as reverse osmosis is very effective. Reverse osmosis filters will remove fine particles and dissolved chemicals, such as those that may be in chlorine tablet residue. Although the technology is expensive and hard to install and keep, it is one of the long-term methods that will prevent water quality from being affected by residues.
Conclusion
In summary, it is important for whoever is using the application of chlorine tablets in water treatment to understand the nature, causes, and remedies to chlorine tablet residue. Through informed choice on the application of chlorine tablets and using proper filtration methods, people can benefit from the merits of chlorine-based disinfection while minimizing the negative impacts of residue.
QC Industry is a well-established company in the water treatment industry. We at our firm believe in producing cheap but good chlorine tablets. In the process of producing chlorine tablets, we strictly follow the best quality control measures so that every product batch can provide consistent and stable performance. Being committed to customer satisfaction and possessing a good reputation for providing excellent water treatment solutions, we are your go-to destination for a residue-free water treatment experience.