Variations of DBPs precursors according to location within the distribution system

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-421
Author(s):  
C. Beaulieu ◽  
M. J. Rodriguez ◽  
J.-B. Sérodes

Little information is available on the evolution of remaining organic matter (ROM) in a water distribution system (WDS) and its impact on the generation of disinfection by-products (DBPs). This research involves the characterization, through sample fractionation processes and experimental chlorination tests, of the reactivity of DBP precursors occurring within a WDS. The study is based on samples collected in various locations of a WDS during a complete year. For each sample, six fractions were generated to determine their potential for formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Fractionation processes on ROM demonstrated that the spatial behavior of precursors for THMs differs from that for precursors of HAAs. In addition, experimental chlorination tests showed that the reactivity of the investigated fractions, in terms of DBP formation potential (DBPfp), was different from each other according to location in the WDS. DBPfp for the studied fractions changed drastically during water treatment. However, changes of DBPfp for fractions were relatively low between the beginning and the extremity of the distribution system. Since the results of this research confirm that the ability to produce DBPs is related to the nature of the fractions, they could be useful to evaluate the impact of re-chlorination on DBP formation in a WDS.

2015 ◽  
Vol 802 ◽  
pp. 513-518
Author(s):  
Nurazim Ibrahim ◽  
Hamidi Abdul Aziz ◽  
Mohd Suffian Yusoff

Natural organic matter (NOM) in water reacts with chlorine or other disinfectants and form hazardous disinfectant by-products (DBPs). This study aimed to detect the presence of NOM in a conventional water distribution system using UV absorbance at 254 nm as a surrogate. Two water treatment plants were selected, namely, Jalan Baharu Water Treatment Plant (JBWTP) and Lubok Buntar Water Treatment Plant (LBWTP). Aside from determining the amount of NOM, the reduction of UV254after completing the series of treatments (coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection) was also observed. The presence of UV254in both raw water and treated water samples confirmed the presence of NOM. The concentration of UV254recorded at JBWTP and LBWTP were 0.14 and 0.13 cm−1, respectively. After the treatment processes, the concentration was reduced to 0.04 cm−1for JBWTP and 0.03 cm−1for LBWTP. These results indicated that the water supply in both plants contains DBP precursors and implied the possibility of DBP formation in the system. Moreover, the percentage reduction of UV254recorded were 69% and 75% for JBWTP and LBWTP, respectively.


Author(s):  
I-Chieh Chien ◽  
Sheng-Pei Wu ◽  
Hsien-Chun Ke ◽  
Shang-Lien Lo ◽  
Hsin-hsin Tung

High cyanobacteria-derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in source water can cause drinking water quality to deteriorate, producing bad taste, odor, toxins, and possibly elevated levels of disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursors. Conventional water treatment processes do not effectively remove algal organic substances. In this study, rapid-sand-filtration effluent from a water treatment plant on Kinmen Island, where serious cyanobacterial blooms occurred, was used to evaluate the DOC- and DBP-removal efficiency of ozonation and/or biofiltration. To simulate a small-scale water distribution system following water treatment, 24 h simulated distribution system (SDS) tests were conducted. The following DBPs were analyzed: trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), and trichloronitromethane (TCNM). Applying biological activated-carbon filtration (BAC) on its own achieved the greatest reduction in SDS-DBPs. Ozonation alone caused adverse effects by promoting THM, HAA, and TCNM formation. Ozonation and BAC filtration yielded better DOC removal (51%) than BAC filtration alone (41%). Considering the cost of ozonation, we suggest that when treating high cyanobacterial organic matter in water destined for a small-scale water distribution system, BAC biofiltration alone could be an efficient, economical option for reducing DBP precursors. If DOC removal needs to be improved, preceding ozonation could be incorporated.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 6221
Author(s):  
Jedrzej Bylka ◽  
Tomasz Mróz

The water supply system is one of the most important elements in a city. Currently, many cities struggle with a water deficit problem. Water is a commonly available resource and constitutes the majority of land cover; however, its quality, in many cases, makes it impossible to use as drinking water. To treat and distribute water, it is necessary to supply a certain amount of energy to the system. An important goal of water utility operators is to assess the energy efficiency of the processes and components. Energy assessments are usually limited to the calculation of energy dissipation (sometimes called “energy loss”). From a physical point of view, the formulation of “energy loss” is incorrect; energy in water transport systems is not consumed but only transformed (dissipated) into other, less usable forms. In the water supply process, the quality of energy—exergy (ability to convert into another form)—is consumed; hence, a new evaluation approach is needed. The motivation for this study was the fact that there are no tools for exergy evaluation of water distribution systems. A model of the exergy balances for a water distribution system was proposed, which was tested for the selected case studies of a water supply system and a water treatment station. The tool developed allows us to identify the places with the highest exergy destructions. In the analysed case studies, the highest exergy destruction results from excess pressure (3939 kWh in a water supply system and 1082 kWh in a water treatment plant). The exergy analysis is more accurate for assessing the system compared to the commonly used energy-based methods. The result can be used for assessing and planning water supply system modernisation.


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