Trends in Drinking Water Treatment and Regulatory Requirements: Preparing for the Future

Groundwater is a critical water resource and accounts for the bulk of world drinking water supply. The quality of groundwater affects both human and animal health. While conventional groundwater treatment technologies work very well for many of the contaminants, there are more challenging new and emerging contaminants which need attention. Further, sustainability of groundwater water treatment technologies is important for them to be effective and acceptable to the public. The current drinking water treatment trains as practiced worldwide have been limited by availability of power, chemical requirements, and the use-of-technologies. New and effective drinking water treatment trains will be necessary to control the emerging contaminants, such as the endocrine-disruptors and pharmaceutical compounds, in addition to the regulated contaminants. Additionally, regulatory requirements dictate the constraints and boundaries for the existing technologies and technology development. The removal of currently removed contaminants (e.g., arsenic) could also be a challenge into the future as various government-bodies are developing new standards. Moreover, various organic compounds in groundwater warrant newer treatment trains/processes with new and effective technologies. This paper discusses these issues with reference to groundwater for use as potable water.