The critical difference in disinfection efficacy between free chlorine and combined chlorine (chloramines) lies in their oxidation strength and, consequently, the contact time required to inactivate protozoan cysts like *Giardiaand *Cryptosporidium*. Free chlorine, which exists primarily as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) at typical drinking water pH levels, is a much stronger oxidant than chloramines. Oxidation is the process of chemically altering or destroying microorganisms. This stronger oxidizing pow....
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