Investigation of Factors Affecting THMs Formation in Drinking Water

Total Trihalomethanes (THMs) content can vary greatly, depending both on water quality and on treatment conditions, in the same water supply system. Most municipal water treatment plants use chlorine to keep water biologically safe during the distribution process. The effect of various parameters on the formation of THMs has been studied in this investigation using water samples collected from Zai water treatment plant in Jordan. These parameters are reaction time, temperature, pH, TOC, free chlorine, and bromide ion content. An increase in the value of any of these parameters has positive effects on the formation of THMs. A general correlation for the prediction of THMs as a function of these parameters is proposed. Its predictions are in good agreement with the observed results regardless of the fact that it is restricted to this study. The kinetics of THMs formation were also investigated and found to follow first order kinetics with 0.0022 hr -1 rate constant.