AWWA ACE62966

This slide presentation outlines a study concerned with the potential impact of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents on downstream drinking water supplies. In particular, the study focuses on: increased levels of Natural Organic Matter (NOM); different character of NOM, i.e. WWTP NOM becoming Effluent Organic Matter (EfOM); and, the impact on disinfection byproducts (DBPs), specifically levels, types, and speciation of DBPs. Topics covered include; analytical techniques for EfOM/NOM characterization; NOM/EfOM Characterization studies including representative results of three wastewater treatment plants on an effluent-impacted river; representative results of DBP formation potential (FP) levels; and, NOM and EfOM properties vs DBPFP levels, specifically WWTPs and drinking water (DW) supplies (with varying EfOM impacts) in multiple watersheds. Summary of conclusions included: WWTP EfOM ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ NOM in DW supplies since EfOM is more polar, less humic, higher in N; differences in DBP precursors included THMs (humic) vs HAAs (non-humic), and N-DBPs (e.g., HANs, NDMA) and Br-DBPs (elevated Br- levels in EfOM); relevance to algal-impacted DW sources revealed similarities between AOM and EfOM; and, EfOM is more biodegradable than NOM which indicates that biological treatment (at the DWTP or in the environment, River Bank Filtration), should be able to remove a portion of the EfOM (and precursors for some DBPs). Includes table, figures.