Occurrence of volatile organic chlorination by-products in water distribution system in Krakow (Poland)

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to analyze the Krakow water distribution systems regarding the occurrence of volatile halogenated water disinfection by-products from the group of trihalomethanes (trichloromethane, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and tribromomethane), haloacetonitriles (bromochloroacetonitrile, dibromoacetonitrile, dichloroacetonitrile, and trichloroacetonitrile), haloketones (1,1-dichloro-2-propanone and 1,1,1-trichloro-2-propanone), chloropicrin (trichloronitromethane), and chloral hydrate. The research was conducted since February 2011 to March 2012; water samples were taken from the ends of the pipe system and analyzed. Two water distribution systems were selected for the research: the first one supplied with water from the water treatment plant (WTP) Raba, and second one—from WTP Bielany. These systems differ in water quality, applied water treatment processes, and the size of the water distribution system, however, in both plants chlorination is applied for the disinfection process. Each month, five samples were taken from the distribution system of WTP Bielany, and six samples from WTP Raba for research. During the entire research period, totally, 154 samples were taken (84 from WTP Raba distribution system and 70 from WTP Bielany one), in which 12 by-products were analyzed. The results of this analysis were used to assess the occurrence of volatile water disinfection by-products in the considered water distribution systems.