Multipure warns summer chlorine spikes can affect garden hose water

Multipure says municipal utilities often raise chlorine levels in summer to control bacteria, which can increase exposure in backyard watering, pet bowls and kiddie pools. The company is promoting its Aquagrow hose filter as a way to reduce chlorine at the tap during outdoor use.

Why it matters: - Summer water treatment can send higher chlorine levels into everyday outdoor uses, including gardens, pet bowls and children’s pools. - Higher chlorine exposure can affect skin comfort, plant health and the microbial balance in soil and compost. - Multipure is positioning hose-side filtration as a simple way for homeowners to cut chlorine at the point of use.

What happened: - Multipure said many municipal water utilities raise chlorine levels in summer because warmer temperatures speed bacterial growth in pipes and storage tanks. - The company said that means tap water can contain more chlorine during summer months than at other times of year. - Multipure is promoting the Aquagrow, a garden-hose filter, as a solution for outdoor water use. - The company said the Aquagrow reduces chlorine by 85% from tap water. - CEO Zac Rice said utilities are right to raise chlorine for drinking water safety, but the practice can create drawbacks for outdoor use.

The details: - The Aquagrow attaches directly to the end of a standard garden hose. - The filter uses KDF-55 filtration. - Multipure said chlorine can affect water taste and odor. - Chlorine is also described as a skin irritant that can strip natural oils and cause dryness and irritation, especially for people and pets with sensitive skin. - Multipure said elevated chlorine can negatively affect lawns and gardens. - The company said reducing chlorine exposure helps soil, compost and mulch maintain their natural microbial balance. - Washington State University found measurable leaf damage in flowering plants, including azalea and lilac, when exposed to chlorine-based disinfectants at elevated concentrations. - The university found new growth among the most sensitive plant tissue. - Multipure said the change in chlorine levels is most relevant when hoses are used most often in summer.

Between the lines: - The pitch links a public-health measure to a household side effect, framing summer chlorine as a tradeoff rather than a flaw in municipal treatment. - Multipure is trying to widen the market for filtration beyond drinking water and into landscaping, pet care and outdoor recreation. - The company’s message is aimed at homeowners who may not think about hose water as a source of chemical exposure.

What's next: - Multipure is directing homeowners to filter water at the hose if they want to reduce chlorine exposure outdoors. - The company says more information on the Aquagrow is available here. - Multipure also points readers to multipure.com and its Facebook and Instagram accounts @Multipure for more company information.

The bottom line: - Summer disinfection can protect drinking water and still create unwanted chlorine exposure in everyday outdoor use, and Multipure is betting homeowners will want a point-of-use fix.