Trihalomethane Species Development in Drinking Water

Abstract

Trihalomethanes (i.e., chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform) are considered toxic compounds to humans. This study aimed to assess the formation of trihalomethane species in two different synthetic drinking water samples prepared in the laboratory. The synthetic water samples were produced by blending desalinated water with groundwater using two typical blending ratios utilized in the drinking water production facility: 97.1% desalinated water, 2.9% groundwater, 85.0% desalinated water, and 15% groundwater. Simulated distribution system trihalomethane tests were carried out to assess the formation of trihalomethane species. The results showed that bromoform in both trials was the dominant trihalomethane species. The formation of trihalomethane species in the synthetic drinking water comprising 15% groundwater was higher than that in the synthetic drinking water samples containing 2.9% groundwater. The study revealed that in the process of blending groundwater with desalinated water, the higher the amount of groundwater utilized to produce the drinking water, the more bromide, and organics are in the finished water. This resulted in more brominated trihalomethanes in the finished water because of the water chlorination process.