AWWA WQTC50354

To comply with increasingly stringent regulations on disinfection byproducts and water quality, reducing the level of organic matter during treatment may be an effective approach to improving water aesthetic, controlling bacterial water quality without the use of excessive levels of disinfectants or the formation of disinfectant byproducts. This study was designated to monitor organic matter levels in river water and evaluate natural organic matter removal during water treatment. Specific objectives of the study were the following: to field test a low maintenance total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer; to examine fluctuations of organic matter levels over time and determine parameters affecting dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in water; and, to assess organic matter removal during water treatment. DOC concentrations of the river, settled, filtered and plant effluent waters were determined on a daily basis using a portable TOC analyzer. Additional parameters were monitored to characterize further the organic matter and evaluate river water quality changes. Includes 4 references, tables, figures.