What element in source water acts as the precursor to disinfection by-product production?

What element in source water acts as the precursor to disinfection by-product production?

• A. Aromatic Compounds
• B. Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
• C. Suspended Solids
• D. Chlorine

Answer: (B)

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) is a key indicator of the amount of organic matter present in source water, which plays a critical role in the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during water treatment processes. When chlorine or other disinfectants are added to water containing TOC, chemical reactions occur that can produce harmful DBPs, such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids. TOC is important because it includes a variety of organic compounds, including natural organic matter from decaying plant and animal material. The higher the concentration of TOC in the water, the greater the potential for DBP formation when chlorination occurs. As water treatment facilities aim to ensure safe drinking water, managing TOC levels becomes essential to minimize DBP formation and comply with regulatory standards. In contrast, while aromatic compounds are a component of organic matter, they are not measured as a whole or recognized as a precursor in the same way that TOC is. Suspended solids refer to small particles in water that can affect water quality but do not directly relate to the formation of DBPs. Chlorine is a disinfectant used to kill pathogens in water but is not a precursor itself; rather, it interacts with TOC to form DBPs.

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) is a key indicator of the amount of organic matter present in source water, which plays a critical role in the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during water treatment processes. When chlorine or other disinfectants are added to water containing TOC, chemical reactions occur that can produce harmful DBPs, such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids.

TOC is important because it includes a variety of organic compounds, including natural organic matter from decaying plant and animal material. The higher the concentration of TOC in the water, the greater the potential for DBP formation when chlorination occurs. As water treatment facilities aim to ensure safe drinking water, managing TOC levels becomes essential to minimize DBP formation and comply with regulatory standards.

In contrast, while aromatic compounds are a component of organic matter, they are not measured as a whole or recognized as a precursor in the same way that TOC is. Suspended solids refer to small particles in water that can affect water quality but do not directly relate to the formation of DBPs. Chlorine is a disinfectant used to kill pathogens in water but is not a precursor itself; rather, it interacts with TOC to form DBPs.