Abstract
Four chloraminated drinking water distribution systems (CDWDSs) required to maintain numeric versus “detectable” residuals were spatially and temporally sampled for water quality and associated trihalomethane (THM) and haloacetic acid (HAA) formation. Monochloramine decreased from entry point (EP) to maximum residence time (MRT) samples while THMs and HAAs initially increased and then stabilized or slightly decreased. Subsequently, EP and MRT samples were used in laboratory-held studies to further evaluate disinfectant residual stability, chloramine speciation, and nitrification occurrence. MRT water exhibited a faster monochloramine concentration decline compared to EP water, indicating a decreasing disinfectant residual stability from increasing water age through distribution. Using a simple technique based on published inorganic chloramine chemistry, samples were also investigated for nondisinfectant positive interference (NDPI) on total chlorine measurements. NDPI concentrations represented up to 100% of the total chlorine concentration when total chlorine concentrations decreased to , indicating little to no effective disinfectant residual remained.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request (all data contributing to figures/tables). Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are proprietary or confidential in nature and may only be provided with restrictions (water utility identities are confidential). Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available in a repository online in accordance with funder data retention policies (https://doi.org/10.23719/1520714) (all data contributing to figures/tables).
Acknowledgments
We thank the four utilities that anonymously participated in this study along with their primacy agency for support on this project. We also acknowledge Stephanie Brown, Christy Muhlen, Colleen Platten, and Ian Raffenberg for laboratory support. This project was funded through USEPA’s Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) Program, which is administered by the Office of Research and Development’s (ORD) Regional Science Program. This work has been subjected to Agency’s administrative review and approved for publication. The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. The Agency does not endorse any commercial products, services, or enterprises.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 1 • January 2023
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 21, 2022
Accepted: Jun 11, 2022
Published online: Oct 27, 2022
Published in print: Jan 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Mar 27, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Chemical compounds
- Chemical elements
- Chemicals
- Chemistry
- Chlorine
- Drinking water
- Engineering fundamentals
- Environmental engineering
- Numerical analysis
- Organic compounds
- Trihalomethanes
- Water (by type)
- Water and water resources
- Water management
- Water quality
- Water sampling
- Water supply
- Water supply systems
- Water treatment
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