Question
QUESTION: Hi there,
I want to ask a question about chlorination of water and its
effect on plants.I hope that you may help me.

1.Is there any chances that the growth of a plant can be
effected if it is exposed to water which contain chlorine in
it?

Thank you.


ANSWER: Hi there,

Yes, chlorine can effect plants adversely if the concentration is strong enough. Chlorine concentration in most drinking water is too weak to damage plants. However, the concentration of chlorine in swimming pools will damage many plants.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Which means,drinking water brings no harm either on plant or
human too?For your information, recently i had been checking
out an experiment done by few students that shows the effect
of drinking water to plants.That experiment give out
negative effects on the plant.Does this mean that water used
nowadays is contaminated with high concentration of
chlorine?

Thank you.  

Answer
As I indicated in my response, "most drinking water" does not have concentrations high enough to damage plants. It is quite possible that there may be exceptions. But my larger point was that whether or not chlorine effect plants depends on the concentration. It is not either or, as your question implied.

I have no idea what concentration of chlorine was used in the student experiment nor do I know how accurately the test was done and controlled. Other variables may have also had an effect. Student experiments are not as reliable as those done by professionals.

To conclude that "water used nowadays is contaminated with high concentration of chlorine," based on that single experiment is not valid.

Finally, I wonder why you asked me this question if you had already decided for yourself what the answer was.

Will Creed