AWWA JAW57693

Water utility laboratory personnel will find needed recommendations and guidance on the selection of filter membranes for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV254) measurements. The results of a national survey by the authors, published previously in JOURNAL AWWA, indicated that filter selection, filter cleaning, and sample filtration are specific areas in which there are inconsistencies among practitioners. This study was undertaken to provide some guidance on these issues. If followed, the information in this article should result in more uniform practices in measuring DOC and UV254 by drinking water practitioners. Among 17 filters tested, two hydrophilic polyethersulfone filters and one hydrophilic polypropylene filter were the best alternatives for DOC and UV254 measurements. Information in this article will provide significant refinement to current practices used for measuring DOC and UV254. The article also provides support to the US Environmental Protection Agency for developing a regulatory protocol for total organic carbon/specific ultraviolet absorbance as a part of the Stage 2 Disinfectants/ Disinfection Byproducts Rule. Includes 29 references, tables, figures.