Alternative Disinfectants for Drinking Water Treatment

Abstract

During a one‐yr study at Jefferson Parish, La., the chemical, microbiological, and mutagenic effects of using the major drinking water disinfectants (chlorine, chlorine dioxide, chloramine, ozone) were evaluated. Tests were performed on samples collected from various treatment streams. These tests evaluated 18 of the halogenated disinfection by‐products, surrogates such as total organic carbon (TOC) and total organic halide (TOX), microorganisms such as MS2 phage, coliforms, and heterotrophs, assimilable organic carbon, and mutagenicity. The best treatment scheme to control halogenated disinfection by‐products was ozone followed by chloramination. However, the total impact of disinfection has to be evaluated before selecting appropriate disinfectants. There appears to be no disinfectant(s) that is applicable for all situations.