Natural Organic Matter Removal for Disinfection By-Products Control in Climate Change Resilient Drinking Water Treatment

Despite extensive experience in disinfected drinking water supply systems, challenges related to disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation still remain, especially considering higher water temperatures and content of natural organic matter (NOM). As part of the EU project safeCREW (http://www.safecrew.org), this research focuses on NOM removal by adsorption, by both batch isotherms and rapid small-scale column tests (RSSCT), comparing 3 commercial activated carbons (AC) and 3 cellulose-based nanostructured sponges (CNS), and testing synthetic and real water samples. NOM was characterized by absorbance and fluorescence and treated samples were subjected to DBPs formation potential tests using sodium hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide. CNS were particularly effective in removing NOM, leading to a relevant decrease in DBPs formation potential. The results are validating through a full-scale monitoring campaign in 2 drinking water treatment plants, collecting samples at the inlet and outlet of the granular AC filters and downstream the disinfection process.