DrinkingWater Disinfection By-Products Relevant to the 1996 NHMRC/ARMCANZ Guidelines

ReportNo WSAA 115

September 1996

ABSTRACT

By-productsproduced as a result of disinfection with chlorine constitute the majority oforganic contaminants in Australian drinking water supplies. Currently, there islittle information available on the nature, distribution and typicalconcentrations of many disinfection by-products (DBPs) present in Australiandrinking waters. The recent release of the draft NHMRC/ARMCANZ AustralianDrinking Water Guidelines lists some 23 by-products and has focussedconsiderable attention in this country on DBPs and the importance andpotentially adverse health effects arising from them.

Asuite of analytical methods for these compounds was compiled and evaluated, toprovide laboratories with the capability to determine concentrations indrinking water distribution systems.

Drinkingwaters from around Australia were analysed to determine the occurrence of DBPs.Water samples from 16 locations, covering 7 different water authorities across5 States were analysed, providing valuable information previously not availableon DBP concentrations in Australian drinking waters. This information willprovide the opportunity for water authorities to assess their compliance withthe revised guidelines and provide data to allow appropriate water treatmentmeasures to be invoked to ensure continuing compliance.

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