AWWA JAW26657

Fifty wells in Kansas were sampled to determine the concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC) and trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) associated with major aquifer systems. The mean TOC and THMFP concentrations were 1.03+0.76 mg/L and 46.7+39.5 ug/L, respectively; THMFP was very strongly correlated with TOC (r=0.953). Only 8 percent of the THMFP concentrations exceeded 100 ug/L, but 56 percent exceeded 25 ug/L and 90 percent exceeded 10 ug/L, suggesting that many Kansas water utilities using groundwater might have difficulty meeting a substantially lower THM standard. Efforts to control THMs in Kansas groundwater supplies should focus on alluvial aquifers, particularly those with high concentrations of TOC, ammonium, iron and manganese. Includes 11 references, tables, figures.