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Quick Facts
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Did you know?
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About Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)
Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) can form during the chemical treatment of drinking water. DBPs are created when naturally-occurring organic materials or manmade compounds in the source water react with treatment chemicals (E.g., chlorine, ozone, chloramines). The resulting products are toxic to humans and animals and have been found in drinking-water systems worldwide. DBPs can impact the odor and taste of drinking water.
Exposures have been linked to a variety of health issues, including liver, kidney, and central nervous system problems. Epidemiological studies have associated lifetime exposure to chlorinated water with increased risk of bladder and colorectal cancers. The trade-off of not using disinfectant residuals, however, could mean an increased risk of exposure to microbial pathogens.
Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) can form during the chemical treatment of drinking water. DBPs are created when naturally-occurring organic materials or manmade compounds in the source water react with treatment chemicals (E.g., chlorine, ozone, chloramines). The resulting products are toxic to humans and animals and have been found in drinking-water systems worldwide. DBPs can impact the odor and taste of drinking water.
Exposures have been linked to a variety of health issues, including liver, kidney, and central nervous system problems. Epidemiological studies have associated lifetime exposure to chlorinated water with increased risk of bladder and colorectal cancers. The trade-off of not using disinfectant residuals, however, could mean an increased risk of exposure to microbial pathogens.
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WQRF Contaminant Occurrence Map
Check out WQRF's Contaminant Occurrence Map for visual representations of drinking water quality data for public water systems across the US. Map data is available for several DBPs, including: Bromate, Chlorite, HAA5, and TTHMs. To View the Data:
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Treatment
The trade-off of not adding chlorine and risking the consequences of acute microbial illness is currently not beneficial. Therefore, treatment at the tap is recommended for controlling harmful exposures. The most widely applied point-of-use (POU) water treatment for DBP removal is activated carbon filtration. Certified POU devices can remove over 95% of disinfection byproducts. In the US and countries with similar treatment design, POU devices offer the best available treatment at the tap to mitigate DBP exposures, particularly given system variability and the uncertainties of future municipal treatment modifications.
The trade-off of not adding chlorine and risking the consequences of acute microbial illness is currently not beneficial. Therefore, treatment at the tap is recommended for controlling harmful exposures. The most widely applied point-of-use (POU) water treatment for DBP removal is activated carbon filtration. Certified POU devices can remove over 95% of disinfection byproducts. In the US and countries with similar treatment design, POU devices offer the best available treatment at the tap to mitigate DBP exposures, particularly given system variability and the uncertainties of future municipal treatment modifications.
Related Articles
Other Resources:
- 05/2012 Waterborne Pathogens: Emerging Issues in Monitoring, Treatment and Control Part 3 [Link]
- 2015/03 Celebrating the Safe Drinking Water Act’s 40th Anniversary [Link]
- 11/2015 Drinking Water Disinfection: Options and Hazard Management [Link]
- 08/2016 Eliminating Chlorine Residuals from Tap Water [Link]
Other Resources:
- CDC: Disinfection By-Products [Link]
- USEPA: Stage 1 and Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rules [Link]
- USGS: Studies on Disinfection By-Products and Drinking Water [Link]
- 4 DBPs (bromate, chlorite, HAA5, and TTHMs) are also regulated under the The National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) [Link]
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