Chlorine dioxide is a superior antimicrobial agent and a strong oxidant. Since chlorine dioxide does not hydrolyze in water, its germicidal activity is relatively constant over a broad pH range. Chlorine dioxide is used in antimicrobial applications to control viruses, bacteria and fungi, including such microorganisms as, Giardia Lamblia, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella. Chlorine dioxide does not react with organic materials to form trihalomethanes (THMs) nor does it react with ammonia to form chloramines.
Chlorine dioxide is also effective at controlling algae, slime and biofilm found in cooling water, process water, and paper mill whitewater systems. In potable water applications it has been shown to be effective at destroying taste and odors from algae, decaying vegetation, odor-producing phenolic compounds, mercaptans, and disubstituted organic sulfides. Chlorine dioxide is also effective at oxidizing soluble forms of iron and manganese to form precipitates that can be removed through sedimentation and filtration.