Bleach vs. Liquid Chlorine
The safer, proven solution is clear.
Bleach Benefits
Practical
Bleach can be produced using just salt, water, and electricity. Bleach can also be transported in its original form, without the risks associated with pressurized liquid chlorine rail transport. About 80% of Western Canadian communities already use bleach, proving it’s a safer and reliable solution.
Controllable
There is no need for risky pressurization for rail transport with bleach. Bleach is easy to handle and store. And, if there’s ever a bleach spill, it can be contained and easily removed (just like mopping bleach up at home!). That means there’s no need for a specialized emergency response or the risk of putting whole neighborhoods in danger.
Safer
Bleach removes the risk of a toxic gas release. It does not require special containment or specialized emergency response. Without a toxic chlorine gas release, there’s minimal health risks, peace of mind for families, and a safer environment for first responders and the broader community.
Convenient
With bleach, there’s no risk of sudden, uncontrollable chlorine gas leaks disrupting your life. That means reliable, safe water treatment and safer bleach transport that you don’t have to worry about. No evacuations, school closures, or ongoing air quality concerns, just peace of mind.
Modern
Bleach is produced and transported using safer, sustainable technology that reflects today’s best practices. Plus, it’s already trusted by most communities in Western Canada.
Minimal Environmental Impact
Even if bleach ever spills, it can be quickly contained and removed, minimizing any harm to air, water, or wildlife. That means there’s virtually no risk of lasting environmental impact.
Liquid Chlorine Risks
Unnecessary
Less than 10% of the liquid chlorine North Van produces is used to treat water in Canada. The rest is loaded into risky, pressurized railcars and shipped out, mostly to the United States, for profit; exposing communities to danger for little local benefit.
Uncontrollable
To ship chlorine by rail, the gas is pressurized into a liquid, making it 460 times smaller. If a leak happens, the liquid chlorine almost instantly turns back into a gas; forming a massive, toxic cloud. Once railcars leave the facility, they travel openly through neighborhoods. And, with each railcar carrying up to a massive 80 tons of liquid chlorine, the risk is significant.
Toxic
When liquid chlorine is released and rapidly turns to gas, exposure can result in severe health issues, including burning eyes and lungs, breathing problems, long-term lung damage, and sometimes even death. The toxic chlorine gas can spread rapidly, putting everyone nearby at serious risk, especially children, seniors, and those with respiratory conditions.
Disruptive
A chlorine gas leak can force mass evacuations, close schools, and pollute the air for days or even weeks. The disruption can affect families, businesses, and entire communities, with long-lasting health and safety impacts and an upending of day-to-day life.
Outdated
Transporting liquid chlorine by rail is an outdated and increasingly abandoned practice. Even major industry leaders like Clorox have moved away from shipping liquid chlorine by rail due to safety concerns. Today, bleach, which can be transported safely, is widely used.
Environmental Hazard
Chlorine gas releases can cause long-term environmental damage that harms air quality, contaminates water, and threatens wildlife. Cleanup is complex, and the impacts can last for years.