AWWA ACE93155

The success of disinfection byproduct studies depends in part on communication between the project manager and laboratory personnel. This paper explains what information project managers need to know when deciding what DBPs should be measured, how the samples should be collected, and who should do the analyses. The analyses to be included in DBP studies depend on the size of the utility, regulatory requirements, and the purpose of the study: whether to optimize treatment or conducting bench or pilot scale tests to evaluate treatment options. While many methods have been recently developed (or are still being developed) for monitoring DBPs, most of these methods are new to laboratories, and strict quality control measures are needed to be sure that the tests are done correctly. The uses and status of a number of methods are summarized. A common pitfall is not providing analysts enough time to learn the analytical methods; a table shows the lead time needed for most methods. One factor that can complicate a DBP study is the uncertainty of sample stability. This can be overcome with the conservative approach: eliminating free residual chlorine, placing samples on ice, and shipping them overnight express to the laboratory. Or, it can be overcome by dechlorinating and preserving samples according to EPA methods. Methods for various types of DBPs are summarized. A table summarizes how long it should take a laboratory that is well stocked and staffed to perform the analyses. A number of tips to ensure good data are given--for example, scheduling sampling to match laboratory capacity for processing samples.