Evaluating the drinking water quality through an efficient chlorine decay model

Abstract

The performance of a treatment plant in reducing chlorine consuming substances as well as total trihalomethane formation (TTHM) could be evaluated rapidly using an accurate chlorine decay model as used in this study. The model could estimate the concentrations of fast and slow reacting agents (FRA and SRA–including organic and inorganic substances) and fast and slow reacting nitrogenous compounds (FRN and SRN) that are present in test waters. By estimating those concentrations in source and treated waters one could evaluate the performance of the treatment plant as well as provide options such as better catchment management for source water protection or treatment upgrades (e.g. enhanced coagulation) to remove chlorine consuming compounds which also have the potential to form THMs.