Chlorination is the process of adding chlorine to water to purify it for human consumption. Chlorine is effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. It has been widely used as a disinfectant since the early 1900s. When chlorine is added to water, it reacts with organic compounds and other substances, using up chlorine in the process. This usage of chlorine is known as chlorine demand. Understanding chlorine demand is important for properly designing chlorination processes to ensure water is sufficiently disinfected.