Trihalomethane formation potential of Kentucky River water. Water resources investigation

Trihalomethane compounds are chlorinated and brominated derivatives of methane that are formed when a natural water is disinfected with free chlorine to produce drinking water. These compounds result when the free chlorine used for disinfection reacts with the dissolved organic carbon of the water. The trihalomethane formation potential of water from the Kentucky River was determined for the period from July of 1988 through March of 1990. Multiple-linear regression analysis of the experimental data indicated that the trihalomethane formation potential was strongly dependent on the pH and dissolved organic carbon concentration and was only slightly dependent on the initial free-chlorine concentration.