AWWA JAW57266

As these authors indicate, there are some misconceptions in the drinking water industry about exactly what specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA) is and how it should be measured. This article presents the results of a survey conducted to determine practices currently being utilized by drinking water practitioners and researchers to measure dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and ultraviolet (UV) absorbances that are also used for determining SUVA. The survey is part of a research project sponsored by the AWWA Research Foundation that will attempt to identify key factors affecting accurate SUVA determinations and propose a unified protocol. The survey found that the majority of the 138 respondents are following the current requirements for measuring DOC and UV set forth in Standard Methods and the standards imposed under the Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rule (D/DBPR). It does appear, however, that some inconsistencies between Standard Methods and the D/DBPR create confusion, particularly in the areas of filter selection, filter cleaning, and sample filtration. This article will give practitioners and researchers an opportunity to evaluate their procedures for measuring DOC and UV, and it identifies areas that need further research before a unified protocol for SUVA determination is developed. Includes 22 references, figures.