A study on the distribution of chlorination by-products (CBPs) in treated water in Korea

Fifteen chlorination by-products were analyzed in 416 water samples collected from 35 water treatment plants in Korea from 1996 to 1998. These samples were divided into five groups according to water sources (Han-river, Nakdong-river, Youngsan-river, Kum-river and Cheju) and detected CBPs were classified into six classes (trihalomethanes; THMs, haloacetic acids; HAAs, haloacetonitriles: HANs haloketones; HKs, chloralhydrate; CH, chloropicrin; CP) and then, it was observed the detection tendency and frequency of CBPs in each water source. The total concentration of CBPs in treated water from Nakdong-river or Han-river was higher than those from the other rivers. And the distribution pattern of each class of CBPs was similar in all water sources. THMs were the highest portion in the range of 40-50%, and HAAs and HANs were 28-35 and 9-15%, respectively. And there was a strong correlation between HANs and HKs (r=0.813). Each and total concentrations of CBPs showed to be more affected by the water source in two-way analysis of variance (two-way ANOVA) among the concentration of CBPs, the source of water and season.