Skip to main content

Utility

  • Become a Subscriber
  • Log in

Main navigation

  • Research
      Column
      Projects
      Current Projects
      Completed Projects
      All Projects
      Programs
      Grants
      Column
      Topics
      Advanced Treatment
      Asset Management
      Biosolids
      Climate Change
      Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs)
      Cyanobacteria & Cyanotoxins
      Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)
      Energy Optimization
      Integrated Planning & Water Management
      Column
      Intelligent Water Systems
      Lead & Copper
      Microbes & Pathogens
      Nutrients
      PFAS
      Resource Recovery
      Reuse
      Stormwater
      Utility Management
      Water Use & Efficiency
      All Topics A-Z...
  • Resources
      Case Studies
      COVID-19 Resources
      Upstream Strategies
      Web Tools
      Videos
  • Proposals
      Column
      Apply
      Open RFPs
      Advance Notice
      Column
      Guidelines
      Contract Materials
      Policies
      Proposal Guidelines
      Project Report Guidelines
  • Innovation
      About
      WRF TechLink
      Programs
  • Our Subscribers
      Benefits
      Become A Subscriber
      Your Regional Liaison
      One Water Rate FAQs
  • About Us
      Column
      The Foundation
      Our Story
      Our Mission
      Our Team
      Board of Directors
      Research & Advisory Councils
      Careers
      Contact Us
      Column
      Get Involved
      Participate in Research
      Awards
      Outstanding Subscriber
      Research Innovation
      Paul L. Busch
  • News & Events
      Column
      Upcoming Event

      WRF Technology Scan Webcast: Innovative Monitoring Tools

      Webcast
      07/12/2022
      Register for Webcast
      Column
      News
      eNews
      AWR Magazine
      Press Releases
      Events
      Webcasts
      Workshops & Conferences
Back to Topic List

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)

The use of strong oxidants to disinfect water has virtually eliminated waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera, and dysentery in developed countries. However, research has shown that chlorine interacts with natural organic matter present in water supplies to form regulated and non-regulated disinfection byproducts (DBPs).

To minimize the formation of regulated DBPs and comply with existing regulations, water utilities have increasingly been moving away from chlorine to use alternative disinfectants like chloramine, or installing more advanced and costly treatment processes, such as ozone or granular activated carbon to remove DBP precursors. However, while reducing the formation of halogenated DBPs, alternative oxidants have been shown to favor the formation of other DBPs (e.g., ozone producing bromate and halonitromethanes, and chloramines producing N-nitrosodimethylamine and iodinated DBPs). 

Questions? Contact Mary Smith, Research Program Manager, at (303) 347-6134 .

Topic Overview (PDF)
Login to follow this topic
73 Projects 1 Web Tool 1 Case Study 4 Webcasts
Water Quality
Advanced Treatment
Biofiltration
Emerging Disinfection Byproducts
Treatment
Project #4711

Occurrence Survey of Bromide and Iodide in Water Supplies

$757,655
2022
Completed

Project Highlights

Disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation depends on the presence and reactivity of oxidants and precursors (e.g., natural organic matter [NOM], bromide, and/or iodide ions) and is influenced by water quality and treatment conditions. Controlling DBP formation has historically focused on removing...

View more details
Principal Investigator
Paul
Westerhoff
Research Manager
Dr. Kenan Ozekin

The Role and Behavior of Chloramines in Drinking Water

In recent years, many utilities implemented chloramine disinfection, primarily to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Stage 1 and Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rules. This state of the science document summarizes relevant WRF research on chloramines, provides an overview of chloramine use in water treatment, and discusses the concerns associated with its use. 

Download
Water Treatment Plant process at sunset

Recent Updates

Project #5043
Assessing the Impacts of Backwash Practice on Biofiltration Operation...

Reporting Period: December 1, 2020 - May 31, 2021. The research team has finished the pilot...

Project Update
09/24/2021
Project #5043
Assessing the Impacts of Backwash Practice on Biofiltration Operation...

Reporting Period: September 1, 2020 - November 30, 2020. During this project period, the research team...

Project Update
01/22/2021
Project #5043
Assessing the Impacts of Backwash Practice on Biofiltration Operation...

Reporting Period: December 1, 2019 - May 31, 2020. Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources (GCDWR)...

Project Update
06/25/2020
Project #4833
Understanding the Impacts of Wastewater Treatment Performance on Advanced...

Reporting Period: July 1, 2021 - January 1, 2022. This reporting period, full chapter drafts from...

Project Update
05/04/2022
Project #5053
Precursors and Control of Halogenated Acetonitriles

Reporting Period: August 1, 2021 – October 31, 2021. During this period, the team tested a...

Project Update
05/04/2022
Project #4954
Integration of High-Frequency Performance Data for...

Reporting Period: September 2021 – November 2021. A survey of select utilities that employ potable reuse...

Project Update
04/06/2022
Project #4168
Quantitative Structure Property Relationships (QSPR) to Predict Removal...
Project Update
11/19/2020
Project #5070
Investigation of Nanobubble Technology for the Removal of MIB and...

Reporting Period: August 1, 2020 to February 1, 2021. The main findings from this project period...

Project Update
05/28/2021
Project #5053
Precursors and Control of Halogenated Acetonitriles

Reporting Period: August 15, 2020 – March 15, 2021. Most of the work during this reporting...

Project Update
09/10/2021
Project #5050
UV/Chlorine AOP in Potable Reuse: Assessment of Applicability,...

Reporting Period: December 2020 – February 2021. During this project period, a survey of utilities that...

Project Update
05/18/2021

News

The Water Research Foundation Announces New RFPs for 12 Research Projects

Press Release
07/09/2019

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has announced that Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are available for 12 new research projects. The RFPs are as follows: Occurrence of PFAS Compounds in U.S...

WRF Funds Seven New Research Projects

Press Release
05/20/2021

The Water Research Foundation Funds Seven New Projects Volunteers Needed, RFPs Coming in August The Water Research Foundation (WRF) will soon post Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and is seeking volunteers...

The Water Research Foundation Announces Awards for Achievements in the Water Sector

Press Release
06/10/2019

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) announced today that it has awarded the 2019 Dr. Pankaj Parekh Research Innovation Award to Dr. Karl Linden, Mortenson Professor in Sustainable Development, University of...

View all Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) News

Resources

Subscriber

Chemically Enhanced Biological Filtration to Enhance Water Quality and Minimize Costs, Appendices A - D

Project Paper
02/26/2016
02/26/2016
Public Plus

Chemically Enhanced Biological Filtration to Enhance Water Quality and Minimize Costs

Executive Summary
02/29/2016
02/29/2016
Subscriber

Chemically Enhanced Biological Filtration to Enhance Water Quality and Minimize Costs: Phase II Pilot-Scale Evaluation

Report
#4429B
07/08/2016
07/08/2016
View all Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) Resources

Related Topics

Link

Emerging Disinfection Byproducts

Link

Advanced Treatment

Link

Biofiltration

Link

Treatment

Link

Water Quality

Like reading about Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) ?

Login to follow this topic
Subscribe to Newsletter

6666 W. Quincy Ave. Denver, CO 80235

1199 N. Fairfax St., Ste. 900 Alexandria, VA 22314

Social

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Footer menu

Column
Research
Biosolids
Climate Change
Energy Optimization
Integrated Water
Lead & Copper
PFAS
Resource Recovery
Utility Management
All Topics
Column
Projects
Current Projects
Completed Projects
All Projects
Programs
Proposals
Advance Notice
Open RFPs
Guidelines
Column
Resources
Case Studies
Web Tools
Videos
Our Subscribers
Benefits
Become a Subscriber
Your Regional Liaison
Column
News & Events
eNews
Press Releases
Webcasts
Events
About Us
Our Mission
Careers
Our Team
Board of Directors

© 2022 The Water Research Foundation.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Footer - Legal

  • Copyright
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy/Security

Main navigation

  • Research
      Column
      Projects
      Current Projects
      Completed Projects
      All Projects
      Programs
      Grants
      Column
      Topics
      Advanced Treatment
      Asset Management
      Biosolids
      Climate Change
      Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs)
      Cyanobacteria & Cyanotoxins
      Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)
      Energy Optimization
      Integrated Planning & Water Management
      Column
      Intelligent Water Systems
      Lead & Copper
      Microbes & Pathogens
      Nutrients
      PFAS
      Resource Recovery
      Reuse
      Stormwater
      Utility Management
      Water Use & Efficiency
      All Topics A-Z...
  • Resources
      Case Studies
      COVID-19 Resources
      Upstream Strategies
      Web Tools
      Videos
  • Proposals
      Column
      Apply
      Open RFPs
      Advance Notice
      Column
      Guidelines
      Contract Materials
      Policies
      Proposal Guidelines
      Project Report Guidelines
  • Innovation
      About
      WRF TechLink
      Programs
  • Our Subscribers
      Benefits
      Become A Subscriber
      Your Regional Liaison
      One Water Rate FAQs
  • About Us
      Column
      The Foundation
      Our Story
      Our Mission
      Our Team
      Board of Directors
      Research & Advisory Councils
      Careers
      Contact Us
      Column
      Get Involved
      Participate in Research
      Awards
      Outstanding Subscriber
      Research Innovation
      Paul L. Busch
  • News & Events
      Column
      Upcoming Event

      WRF Technology Scan Webcast: Innovative Monitoring Tools

      Webcast
      07/12/2022
      Register for Webcast
      Column
      News
      eNews
      AWR Magazine
      Press Releases
      Events
      Webcasts
      Workshops & Conferences

Lift Main Navigation

  • Resources
      Column
      Intelligent Water Systems Challenge
      SEE IT

Utility

  • Become a Subscriber
  • Log in

Lift Utility

  • The Water Research Foundation