Evaluation of treatment alternatives for THM-precursor removal from the Po River and Ni River, Virginia

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of alum coagulation, permanganate and chlorine dioxide preoxidation, and powdered activated carbon pretreatment for the removal of trihalomethane (THM) precursors from the Po River, the Ni River and the Ni River Reservoir waters in eastern Virginia. The effects of temperature and storage were also studied. Samples were collected on two occasions and were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), THM-formation potential (THMFP), color, UV-absorbance and pH. Samples were then treated in a manner similar to that ina typical water treatment plant by bench-scale jar tests and reanalyzed for TOC, THMFP, color and UV-absorbance.

The results indicate that the THMFPs of both Po and Ni River waters were high. Alum coagulation at pH 6.0 reduced TOC by as much as 48 percent while THMFP reductions averaged 63 percent. Permanganate preoxidation at dosages as high as 2.0 mg/L reduced THM precursors by less than 14 percent. Powdered activated carbon at 10 to 20 mg/L reduced THM precursors by less than four percent. Application of 2 mg/L chlorine dioxide reduced THM<-precursors by eight percent over what could be achieved by alum coagulation alone. A major conclusion was that treatment of the Po River by conventional measures to meet existing and future drinking water standards for THMs would be difficult, if not impossible.