ANALYSIS OF HE INFLUENCE OF DRINKING WATER TREATMENT PROCESSES ON DRINKING WATER TREATMENT BYPRODUCTS FORMATION USING FREE CHLORINE AND COD AS INDICATORS

it is evident that while disinfection increase the drinking water quality, by end of the day some disinfection by products are formed which are toxic to humans. Some of the disinfection byproducts are such as trihalomethanes and halo acetic acids. Although these byproducts don’t have an immediate effect, they tend to accumulate in human bodies hence causing body disorders and diseases since they are carcinogenic. The main aim of the project was to assess the influence of water treatment processes on the formation of DBPs using proxy indicators (free chlorine and COD). The study was also done to assess the raw water characteristics, to evaluate the influence of filtration mechanisms/ systems on formation of DBPs as well as to investigate how treatment plant operating regimes affect DBPs formation. Both the free chlorine and the COD were measured using the thermo Orion method accepted the United States environmental protection agency (USEPA). The turbidity and pH for the raw water was found to be 102 ntu and 8.14 respectively while the COD for the raw water was found to be 1.72 whereas after GAC and sand filtration the value started to decrease and then increase thereafter showing production of disinfection byproducts. The study shows that combination of pre-chlorination and sand filtration yields the minimum disinfection byproducts compared to the other combinations.

it is evident that while disinfection increase the drinking water quality, by end of the day some disinfection by products are formed which are toxic to humans. The main aim of the project was to assess the influence of water treatment processes on the formation of DBPs using proxy indicators (free chlorine and COD). The study was also done to assess the raw water characteristics, to evaluate the influence of filtration mechanisms/ systems on formation of DBPs as well as to investigate how treatment plant operating regimes affect DBPs formation. The turbidity and pH for the raw water was found to be 102 ntu and 8.14 respectively while the COD for the raw water was found to be 1.72 whereas after GAC and sand filtration the value started to decrease and then increase thereafter showing production of disinfection byproducts.

Raw water that was used in this research was taken from Lichenza River in Thyolo district in southern region of Malawi. The water was treated and analyzed in the environmental quality testing laboratory at the Malawi University of science and technology. The physical parameters of the raw water were measured on site.

Traditional authority: Luchenza Town

District: Thyolo

Coordinates: -16.00675, 35.3079