DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS IN CANADIAN DRINKING-WATER

Halogenated disinfection by-products were determined in Canadian drink ing water supplies where chlorine was used at some stage in the treatm ent process. The effects of applied disinfectants (chlorine, chloramin e and ozone), seasonal variation (winter and summer) and spatial varia tion (treatment plant and distribution system) were examined. Chlorofo rm, dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid were the major disinf ection by-products found in all treated water samples and total haloac etic acid concentrations often equalled or exceeded total trihalometha ne concentrations. Haloacetonitriles, halopropanones, chloral hydrate and chloropicrin were usually detected in treated water samples but at lower concentrations. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.