Free Chlorine vs Total Chlorine: Understanding the Difference
Posted by David Cannon on 16th Oct 2026
Chlorine is widely used in water treatment to control microbial growth and maintain water quality across municipal, commercial, and industrial applications. However, monitoring chlorine levels requires understanding the different measurements used to evaluate disinfectant residuals. The terms free chlorine and total chlorine are often used together; however, they do not represent the same measurement.
Understanding free chlorine vs total chlorine helps professionals assess disinfectant availabil