This AwwaRF and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) sponsored research study investigated factors affecting the formation
and decay of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) under actual distribution system conditions. Fullscale
distribution system samplings were conducted over a one-year period at two free
chlorinated systems and two chloraminated systems. In addition, one chloraminated system, with
periodical switches to free chlorine for nitrification control, was closely monitored before,
during, and after the disinfectant change. Monitoring parameters included the four trihalomethanes
(THM4), the nine haloacetic acids (HAA9) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), along with a suite of
general water quality parameters. This manuscript presents THM4 and HAA9 results obtained at
the participating utilities, and a discussion of observed factors affecting the formation and decay
of DBPs in full-scale distribution systems.
As expected, THM4 and HAA9 concentrations were higher in the warmer months than in the
colder months in both free chlorinated and chloraminated systems. In the free chlorinated
systems, THM4 concentrations increased as water age increased and chlorine residual decreased,
a trend observed for all samplings. In the chloraminated systems, THM4 concentrations were relatively stable as water age
increased. In both free chlorinated and chloraminated systems, pipe material and diameter was not observed
to affect THM4 and HAA9 concentration and speciation.
The chloraminated systems that periodically switch to free chlorine allowed confirmation of
several trends: THM4 and HAA9 concentrations increased with increasing water temperature,
although the magnitude of increase in HAA9 concentrations due to temperature was not as high
as the increase in THM4 concentrations; THM4 and HAA9 concentrations were higher during
the free chlorination period than during the chloramination periods; THM4 and HAA9
concentrations increased with increasing water age when free chlorine was used as final
disinfectant, whereas DBP concentrations remained relatively uniform during chloramination; and, the magnitude of increase in HAA9 concentration during chlorination was less than the
increase observed for THM4. Includes figures.