Date of Award

12-17-2002

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Disinfection byproducts (DBP) are formed during the reaction of chemical disinfectants with natural organic material (NOM). DBPs are potential carcinogens and are regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEP A) under the Disinfectant/DBP (D/DBP) rule. High concentrations of NOM in drinking water sources used by Alaska's communities often result in the formation of DBPs during treatment. Since surface water sources in the Arctic are frozen for 6-9 months of the year, communities are often forced to store raw water for treatment during the winter or treat and store enough drinking water during the summer to last through the winter. The effects of long-term water storage practice and treatment technology on DBP formation was examined in the drinking water systems of 5 rural Alaskan communities. Results from this research suggest NOM escaping treatment is likely to react in the storage tank producing DBP concentrations well above the estimated DBP formation potential.

Handle

http://hdl.handle.net/11122/6438

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