Document Type
Article
Rights
Available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International Licence
Disciplines
Environmental sciences, Water resources, Civil engineering, Environmental and geological engineering
Abstract
Groundwater offers an important source for drinking water around the world; however, groundwater quality is under increasing pressure and is particularly vulnerable in karst areas. Total organic carbon (TOC) is significantly related to groundwater quality and when not removed by water treatment processes can give rise to the formation of disinfection by-products trihalomethanes (THMs) above the level of compliance. This study investigated the source of organic matter giving rise to the THM exceedances in a groundwater supply in a karst area. Results highlighted that source water for this groundwater supply was prone to surface water infiltration linked to rainfall events; was not accurately captured in the zone of contribution (ZoC); had inadequate treatment of natural organic matter (NOM) and suffered THM exceedances in 45% of sampling events. THMs were mostly represented by chloroform and caused by terrestrial delivered reprocessed organic matter. This work will support water managers tasked with decision-making.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07855-9
Recommended Citation
O’Driscoll, C., McGillicuddy, E., Croot, P. et al. Tracing sources of natural organic matter, trihalomethanes and metals in groundwater from a karst region. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 12587–12600 (2020). DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-07855-9
Funder
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Included in
Civil Engineering Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Other Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
Publication Details
Environmental Science and Pollution Research journal