Environmentally friendly methods of water disinfection: The chemistry of alternative disinfectants

The risk of disease from microbiological organisms far surpasses any chemic al risk associated with water treatment by chemical oxidation. Giardia lamb lia and Cryptosporidium parvum, common microbiological contaminants, someti mes have fatal consequences to individuals with weak immune systems. Becaus e effective environmentally friendly oxidants are available and accessible for treating drinking water, utilities throughout the industrialized world are investigating alternative disinfection/oxidation practices. Chlorine di oxide and ozone are frequently used to remove taste and odor problems, colo r and to inactivate problem microbiological species. To understand the uniq ue value of ozone and chlorine dioxide in water treatment, one must start w ith the chemistry. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.