由于饮用水中二氧化氯副产品的预期监管，使用这种替代消毒剂的处理厂必须寻找降低氯酸盐和氯离子浓度的方法。这可以通过减少氯酸盐的形成和/或在形成后去除二氧化氯、氯酸盐和亚氯酸盐来实现。进行了两项研究，以确定二氧化氯能否成功地用于防止饮用水处理过程中三卤甲烷（THM）的形成，而不会导致二氧化氯及其副产品的过量残留。第一次测试是在佛罗里达州李县进行的，测试对象是硬度高、pH值和浊度适中、颜色和总有机碳含量高且随季节变化的水。第二次测试是在马萨诸塞州的Scituate进行的，水质柔软，pH值低，颜色鲜艳，含有中等水平的铁和锰，7月和8月期间藻类大量繁殖。 全尺寸试验结果表明，颗粒活性炭（GAC）可能是去除亚氯酸盐和二氧化氯的可行方法，但对氯酸盐则不是。

Because of expected regulation of chlorine dioxide byproducts in drinking water, treatment plants using this alternative disinfectant must look at ways to reduce chlorate and chlorine ion concentrations. This may be accomplished through reducing chlorate formation and/or the removal of chlorine dioxide, chlorate, and chlorite after formation. Two studies were conducted to determine if chlorine dioxide could be used successfully to prevent the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) during drinking water treatment without resulting in excessive residuals of chlorine dioxide and its byproducts. The first test was conducted in Lee County, Florida, on water that was hard, of moderate pH and turbidity, and high in color and total organic carbon with seasonal variations. The second test was conducted in Scituate, Massachusetts, with water that is soft, low pH, highly colored, contains moderate levels of iron and manganese, and suffers algae blooms during July and August. Results of full-scale testing suggest that granular activated carbon (GAC) may be a viable means for removing chlorite and chlorine dioxide, but not for chlorate.