Drinking Water Chlorination and Adverse Public Health Outcomes in Algeria

Abstract

Drinking water supplies continue to be a major source of human disease because many of them remain unsafe and vulnerable. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of trihalomethanes formation and chemical and microbiological quality through four raw surface waters as well as finished tap waters. The seasonal changes on trihalomethane formation and concentration of organic precursors were examined. Results show that disinfection for Algerian drinking water reduces the risk of pathogenic infection but may pose chemical threat to human health due to high levels of by-products such as trihalomethanes, when the organic and inorganic precursors are present in water. The level of THM precursors vary between different catchment areas and between different water treatment plants, and seasonally. Such work may be interesting to help management strategies and to assist drinking water treatment plants in DBP control processes for increasingly impaired water sources.