Factors Influencing the Formation of Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids in Source Water

Humic acid and aromatic organic compounds (AOCs) detected generally in source water recently could react with chlorine during drinking water treatment process to generate disinfection by-products (DBPs), such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). To simulate the real contaminated water, in the samples containing humic acid, 1,3-benzenediol, 1,4-benzenediol, 1,2-benzenediol, phenol and benzoic acid as representative AOCs were added to conduct chlorination test in order to analyze the impacts of some factors on the formation of THMs and HAAs. The research results indicated that THMs concentration increased with pH but HAAs concentration decreased with pH, and chlorine time, temperature and chlorine dosage all had the functional relationships with the formation of THMs and HAAs. These results could provide the valuable information for the effective control of DBPs during drinking water treatment operation.