Production Of Toxic Trihalomethane In Chlorinated Drinking Water Flowing Through Conduit

Abstract

Trihalomethane (THM) are chemical species commonly found in drinking water and are known to be toxic (mutant and carcinogenic). In order to estimate the production of THM species in chlorinated drinking water during the distribution to the consumers, a mathematical model considered Adin's reaction kinetics for THM production and the transport phenomena for pipe flow has been constructed. With use of the model, THM levels in drinking water flowing through conduits have been simulated numerically. The results of numerical simulations shows that: (1) THM formation rate is highly dependent on the chlorine concentration given at the inlet of conduits, i.e., THM level rises with increasing chlorine dose; and (2) The primary factor controls the production of THM during the transportation is the detention time of the conduit , i.e., the more the flow rate decreases, the greater the THM production is.