BlogWaterBy Hannah Reid1 November 2026

How Do You Get Rid Of The Chlorine Taste In London Tap Water?

The most dependable way to get rid of the chlorine taste in London tap water is to filter it through activated carbon, which Thames Water says can remove the taste. A jug left in the fridge overnight also helps, but, in my opinion, the better long term answer is the Flowpure stainless steel tap filter, which removes chlorine, VOCs and unpleasant tastes and odours at the tap. This guide covers why the taste appears, what the fridge method can and cannot do, when a sudden change is worth reporting, and why I would argue for a filter. It should save you some trial and error.

In this guide: why London tap water tastes of chlorine, whether the fridge method works, whether carbon filters help, why the taste can change, and why a stainless steel filter is worth having.

Why Does London Tap Water Taste Of Chlorine?

London tap water can taste of chlorine because Thames Water adds a very small amount after treatment, less than one milligram per litre, to keep the water safe until it reaches your tap. Thames Water says treating drinking water with chlorine poses no risk to health. That is reassuring, but, as I see it, meeting standards and tasting clean are different things, and safe is not the same as clean. A household can reasonably want a glass of water that tastes of nothing at all, particularly when it is poured cold.

Thames Water's 2025 water quality data records average residual chlorine of 0.77 mg/l in the Kingston North supply zone. The same report lists no regulatory limit for residual chlorine and describes the supply as either chloraminated or chlorinated. That figure belongs to one named zone, so it does not describe every London address. Even so, it shows the scale involved, and it explains why a filter aimed at chlorine is a sensible tool for anyone whose main complaint is flavour.

Does Putting Water In The Fridge Remove The Taste?

Refrigerating tap water can reduce a chlorine taste or smell, according to the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which suggests putting a jug of tap water in the fridge for a short while. Thames Water gives a more specific routine, saying that a jug left in the fridge overnight lets the chlorine dissipate. It costs nothing, so, in my opinion, it is a sensible place to start while you decide on something more permanent. I would stick to those named instructions rather than guess at other methods.

How long can the chilled water be kept? Thames Water says water kept in the fridge this way should be treated as perishable food and consumed within 24 hours. In practice, that means filling a jug each evening and finishing it the following day, which is a small chore that never quite goes away. Perhaps that suits some kitchens, though I would rather have the water taste right straight from the tap, with no jug to remember and no clock running on it.

Do Carbon Filters Remove Chlorine Taste?

Activated carbon filters can remove chlorine taste, and Thames Water says that jug or domestic filters containing activated carbon do exactly that. The Flowpure stainless steel tap filter removes chlorine, VOCs and unpleasant tastes and odours, and it also blocks sediment, rust and visible particles. In my opinion, that pairing is the strongest argument for it: it deals with the taste you notice and with the grit you might not. It sits on the tap, so every glass, kettle fill and pan of water gets the same treatment without any planning the night before.

Why Has The Taste Changed, Or Started Tasting Like TCP?

Changes to water treatment can cause a chlorine taste or smell, according to Thames Water, which says this can follow unavoidable operational changes at treatment works or in distribution pipes. If the taste or smell is unusually strong or new, the Drinking Water Inspectorate advises contacting your water company. For a London household supplied by Thames Water, that means telling Thames Water, whatever else you decide to do. Reporting it is quick, and, as I see it, it is better to mention a change than to wonder about it for weeks.

A TCP or medicinal taste is a separate matter. Thames Water distinguishes it from a plain chlorine taste and says it comes from chlorine reacting with materials such as tap washers, plastic kettles and washing machine hoses, and that it carries no health risk. When you describe the problem, say which taste you mean and whether it comes from every tap or only one, since that detail helps narrow down the cause. A filter at the tap improves taste and smell, but I would not promise that it cures a fault in a particular appliance.

Why Is A Flowpure Stainless Steel Filter Worth Having?

The Flowpure stainless steel tap filter has a 304 stainless steel body and comes with 5 thread adapters to help with fitting. Its job is to reduce chlorine, remove VOCs and unpleasant tastes and odours, and catch sediment, rust and visible particles. In my opinion, that makes it a worthwhile everyday purchase, because it solves the complaint at the point where you pour, every time. A fridge jug is a decent first step, but a filter turns the fix into a habit you never have to think about.

Product card: Flowpure stainless steel tap filter

* Body: 304 stainless steel * Fitting: comes with 5 thread adapters * Reduces: chlorine, VOCs and unpleasant tastes and odours * Catches: sediment, rust and visible particles * Targets: lead and trace metals (test first)

The stainless model also targets lead and trace metals, and if that matters to you, I would test your water first and then let the result guide your choice. Check your tap thread against the five adapters supplied, fit the filter, and follow the cartridge care instructions so it keeps working as intended.

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