The Stage 2 Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR) will present a
compliance challenge for many drinking water utilities. Consecutive drinking water systems will
be particularly susceptible to these challenges. The American Water Works Association
Research Foundation (AwwaRF) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) jointly
funded Project # 3026, "Evaluation of Disinfection Practices for DBP and Precursor Occurrence
in Consecutive Systems." The purpose of this nearly three year effort was to identify the factors
which most significantly impact disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation in consecutive systems
(CSs) and determine effective control strategies to reduce DBP formation in CSs. It was found
that, regardless of the disinfection strategy, trihalomethanes (THMs) were the predominant DBP
species formed in CS distribution systems. It was also observed that on average about 60 to 65
percent of the maximum DBP concentrations observed were formed in the water treatment plant
and 75 to 80 percent were formed before the point of delivery to the consecutive system. This
emphasizes the importance of treatment optimization in controlling DBPs, and in many cases
may reduce the effectiveness of water age management strategies which were identified as best
available technology (BAT) for consecutive systems in the Stage 2 DBPR. Includes reference, tables, figures.