We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
The Influence of Some Physicochemical Parameters of Surface Waters on the Formation of Trihalomethanes During the Drinking Water Treatment Process
Summary
Despite its title referencing trihalomethanes in drinking water treatment, this paper studies disinfection byproducts formed during water chlorination — not microplastic pollution. It examines how water temperature, organic carbon content, and pH affect the formation of potentially carcinogenic chemical compounds in tap water in Romania and is not relevant to microplastics.
Trihalomethanes (THMs) are a class of disinfectant by-products present in chlorinated tap water. Mainly due to their carcinogenic potential, their concentration in drinking water is now limited by regulations. In Romania, little is known about their distribution in urban drinking water supply systems, their magnitude, or their seasonal variation. Drinking water suppliers periodically adapt and optimise their water treatment methods for economic reasons and in response to regulatory changes and technological developments. The formation of THMs is influenced by the physicochemical parameters of water (pH, temperature, total organic carbon-TOC) and by environmental factors (geographical, climatological). Most of these factors have significant seasonal variations that lead to the formation of THMs in variable concentrations. In this study, we analysed the seasonal trends in surface water quality (considering variations in temperature, pH, and TOC) and correlated them with the concentration of THMs in drinking water over two calendar years. Water samples were collected from the Arges River, in a geographical area comprised of plains. The results show that the formation of THMs is enhanced by increasing temperature over the course of a year, with the highest concentrations being obtained in July 2022 (98.7 µg/L THMs at 30.5 °C) and in August 2023 (81.9 µg/L THMs at 30.4 °C). The main parameters that trigger the formation of THMs are the organic matter content and the disinfectant dose; the pH has a moderate effect, and its effect is correlated with the concentration of organic matter. There were noted strong seasonal changes in the concentration of THMs, with the maximum peak being in the middle and late summer and the minimum peak being in winter. This indicates the possibility that the quality of drinking water may change as a result of climate change. In addition, monitoring and chlorination experiments have established that the concentration of THMs is directly proportional with the TOC.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Effects of microplastics on DBPs formation under the chlorination of natural organic matters
Researchers investigated how microplastics affect disinfection byproduct formation during chlorination of natural organic matter in water treatment, finding that the presence of microplastics can influence the generation of potentially harmful DBPs.
Leaching of organic matters and formation of disinfection by-product as a result of presence of microplastics in natural freshwaters
Researchers found that microplastics leach dissolved organic carbon into freshwater, and when combined with chlorine disinfection, this leached material promotes the formation of disinfection byproducts like chloroform in drinking water treatment.
The fate of microplastics and organic matter leaching behavior during chlorination
Researchers studied how chlorination affects polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics and the organic matter they release, finding that chlorination promoted organic carbon leaching from microplastics at about 0.3 to 0.5 parts per thousand of the plastic mass. The leached organic matter showed significant potential to form trihalomethane and haloacetonitrile disinfection byproducts, raising concerns about chlorinated microplastics in drinking water systems.
Impact of source water quality on total organic carbon and trihalomethane removal efficiency in a water treatment plant: A case study of Upper Awash, Ethiopia
This study examined how source water quality affects the ability of a treatment plant in Ethiopia to remove organic carbon and reduce harmful byproducts called trihalomethanes. The researchers found that higher levels of metals and turbidity in the source water reduced treatment effectiveness. While not directly about microplastics, the findings are relevant because microplastics in source water can also carry organic pollutants and interfere with water treatment processes, compounding the challenge of providing safe drinking water.
Characteristics of microplastic polymer-derived dissolved organic matter and its potential as a disinfection byproduct precursor
UV irradiation caused polypropylene and polyethylene microplastics to leach dissolved organic matter into water, producing low-molecular-weight compounds that could react with chlorine during water treatment to form trihalomethanes, a known class of disinfection byproducts and carcinogens. The findings suggest that microplastics in source water could be a previously unrecognized precursor to harmful disinfection byproducts.