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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 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). 

Topic Overview (PDF)
104 Projects 1 Web Tool 1 Case Study 7 Webcasts
Water Quality
Advanced Treatment
Biofiltration
Non-Regulated Disinfection Byproducts
Treatment
Project #4560

GAC Control of Regulated and Emerging DBPs of Health Concern

$698,637
In Progress

Project Highlights

This project evaluated the efficacy, design, and cost implications of using GAC to remove precursors and pre-formed halogenated and non-halogenated C- and N-DBPs of concern in order to provide utilities, regulators, and consultants with a better understanding of the implications...

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Principal Investigator
Meric
Selbes
Research Manager
Dr. Djanette Khiari

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 #4731
Optimizing Biofiltration and Integrating Biofiltration into...

Reporting Period: April 1, 2019 – September 30, 2019. During this period, Subtask 3.3, Biofiltration Performance...

Project Update
12/27/2019
Project #4749
Optimizing Biofiltration for Improved Manganese Control under Winter...

Reporting Period: July 1, 2019 – October 1, 2019. During this project period, analysis of full-...

Project Update
12/27/2019
Project #3177
Occurrence, Treatment, and Evaluation of Analytical Methods for...

In Phase I (Project 3177), quantitative real-time PCR assays were developed to detect Group F ads...

Project Update
06/26/2019
Project #4983
Evaluating Legionella Detection Rates and Occurrence by...

Reporting Period: May 1, 2019 - October 31, 2019. The team developed molecular methods, including conducting...

Project Update
12/27/2019
Project #4721
Method(s) for Detecting and Differentiating Opportunistic Premise...

During this reporting period, the team continued to examine how the developed opportunistic pathogen (OP) monitoring...

Project Update
11/07/2019
Project #5015
Solutions for Failing Drinking Water Systems in ...

During this project period, a March 2019 site visit to systems in Fresno was conducted, a...

Project Update
10/31/2019
Project #4920
Decision Support Framework for Drinking Water Treatment Plants...

During this reporting period, the research team continued to refine the Decision Support Framework (DSF) conceptual...

Project Update
09/25/2019
Project #4906
Evaluation of Fouling Characteristics and Cleaning Efficacy of...

The pilot began running in October of 2018 with the first set of three membranes: Toray...

Project Update
06/09/2019
Project #4984
Impact of Intermittent Operation on Biofilter ...

The main focus of the project to-date has been monitoring the biological acclimation of pilotscale filters...

Project Update
06/09/2019
Project #4983
Evaluating Legionella Detection Rates and Occurrence by...

Determine baseline occurrence of Legionella throughout the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) water distribution system.

Project Update
07/26/2019

News

Seven RFPs Released for WRF Research

Press Release
09/27/2018

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) today announced that Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are available for six new research projects funded under the Solicited Research Program. In addition, one new RFP...

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Resources

View all Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) Resources

Related Projects

Project #4477

Pretreatment of Low Alkalinity Organic-Laden Surface Water Prior to a Coagulation-Ultrafiltration Membrane Process

Completed

The research determined (1) the effectiveness of biological pretreatment for removing disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors, turbidity, and color, and (2) evaluated biological pretreatment prior to ultrafiltration to reduce...

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Project #4294

DBP Precursor and Micropollutant Removal by Powdered Activated Carbon

Completed

This project evaluated the effects of powdered activated carbon (PAC) particle size on DBP precursor and micropollutant removal, and identified physical and chemical sub-micrometer PAC(S-PAC) characteristics that yield...

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Project #4161

UV-Based Advanced Oxidation Treatment of Pre and Post-GAC Contacted Water

Completed

This project investigated pre- and post-GAC treated waters and the effects of UV-AOP and post-chlorination on formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs), toxicity, peroxide quenching, and organic carbon bioavailability...

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Project #4622

Understanding the Source and Fate of Polymer-Derived Nitrosamine Precursors

In Progress

This project investigated how cationic polymers contribute to NDMA formation, and identified actionable information that water agencies can implement to reduce cationic polymer-derived NDMA formation. The project focused...

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Project #4669

Biological Filtration: NDMA Control or Source of Precursors?

In Progress

In order to manage levels of nitrosamines in drinking water, utilities practicing or considering implementation of biofiltration need to understand which conditions promote or mitigate nitrosamine formation. This...

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Project #4916

The Impact of Pre-Chlorination and GAC Treatment on DBP Formation and Overall Toxicity in Drinking Water

In Progress

This project will investigate the impact of granular activated carbon (GAC) with and without pre-chlorination on disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation and the resulting toxicity of drinking water using...

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Related Topics

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Non-Regulated Disinfection Byproducts

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Advanced Treatment

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Biofiltration

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Water Quality

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