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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 emerging 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). 

For more information, contact Kenan Ozekin.

Topic Overview (PDF)
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177 Projects 1 Web Tool 1 Case Study 2 Webcasts
Water Quality
Advanced Treatment
Biofiltration
Emerging Disinfection Byproducts
Treatment
Project #5005

Nitrosamine Precursors in Direct and Indirect Potable Reuse Water

$49,581
2022
Completed

Project Highlights

There is growing interest in nitrosamines, including N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), and their precursors. This project applied an existing analytical method typically used for N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)—the most commonly occurring nitrosamine present in reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation process treated water from potable...

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Principal Investigator
David
Hanigan
Research Manager
Kenan Ozekin, PhD

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.

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Water Treatment Plant process at sunset

Recent Updates

Project #5140
The Impact of Pre-Chlorination and GAC Treatment on DBP...
Project Update
02/13/2023
Project #5140
The Impact of Pre-Chlorination and GAC Treatment on DBP...

Reporting Period: January 1, 2022 - March 31, 2022

Project Update
11/28/2022
Project #5151
Impact of UV Treatment on Microbial Communities in a Full-Scale Drinking...

Reporting Period: November 2022 - April 2023

Project Update
05/26/2023
Project #4961
The Use of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Technologies and...
Project Update
05/09/2023
Project #5129
Demonstration of Innovation to Improve Pathogen Removal,...

Reporting Period: January 2023 – March 2023

Project Update
04/04/2023
Project #5053
Precursors and Control of Halogenated Acetonitriles

Reporting Period: November 15, 2021 - August 15, 2022

Project Update
03/23/2023
Project #5107
Understanding Pyrolysis for PFAS Removal

Reporting Period: November 1, 2022 – February 1, 2023

Project Update
03/22/2023
Project #3177
Occurrence, Treatment, and Evaluation of Analytical Methods for...

The overall objective of this project was to develop, improve, and apply sensitive and robust analytical...

Project Update
07/18/2022
Project #5153
Evaluation of Bench-Scale Methods to Predict Drinking Water PFAS...

Reporting Period: November 1, 2022 - January 31, 2023

Project Update
03/01/2023
Project #5129
Demonstration of Innovation to Improve Pathogen Removal,...

Reporting Period: July - September 2022

Project Update
02/09/2023

News

WRF Seeks Proposals for 22 New Research Projects Totaling $4.9M

Press Release
09/12/2023

(Denver, CO) 9/12/23 - The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is now accepting proposals for 22 research projects totaling $4.9M that will advance the science of water for communities around the...

Potable Reuse

Magazine
07/19/2023

All communities need resilient supplies of clean, safe water. Some utilities can tap into additional water sources when their primary supplies face quality or quantity issues. Read the full article...

Bringing Granular Activated Carbon Filtration to CFPUA

Magazine
Cammie Bellamy and Carel Vandermeyden
07/19/2023

The presence of PFAS in drinking water is a significant concern to the water sector, and GAC is one treatment that shows potential for PFAS removal. Read the full article...

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
Subscriber

Chemically Enhanced Biological Filtration to Enhance Water Quality and Minimize Costs

Report
#4429A
02/29/2016
02/29/2016
Public Plus

Chemically Enhanced Biological Filtration to Enhance Water Quality and Minimize Costs

Executive Summary
02/29/2016
02/29/2016
View all Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) Resources

Related Topics

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Emerging Disinfection Byproducts

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Advanced Treatment

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Biofiltration

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Treatment

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Water Quality

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