Abstract

Water quality regulations continue to evolve as new research and treatment technologies are developed. Recent regulatory changes focused on control of disinfection by-products (DBPs) have affected the operating strategy for many water treatment plants. Historically, treatment plants focused disinfection and turbidity removal practices to conservatively provide for pathogen inactivation. However, the interaction of disinfectants with naturally occurring organic matter in the source water resulted in formation of DBPs such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids in the finished water. These DBPs are suspected to pose a health hazard in drinking water and the Stage I Disinfectant/Disinfection By-Product Rule was put into effect as of January 1, 2002 to limit the levels of DBPs in the distribution system, as well as to require increased removal of DBP precursors (measured as TOC) through the treatment process. This paper describes how the City of Wilmington, Delaware proactively planned for and successfully implemented low cost equipment, training and operational changes at its two treatment plants to better comply with the new regulations while still balancing the need for adequate turbidity and pathogen removal.

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