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Rainstorm‑driven highly chlorine‑reactive DOM increases disinfection byproduct risks in drinking water
Zhengdi Wu1, Pin Wang1, Yu Lei2
1State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
Water Research
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Global climate change intensifies rainstorms, altering dissolved organic matter (DOM) in water. This increases disinfection byproduct (DBP) risks and cytotoxicity in drinking water, posing treatment challenges.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Water Quality Science
- Climate Change Impacts
Background:
- Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events like rainstorms.
- Rainstorms significantly impact source water quality by increasing dissolved organic matter (DOM) through runoff.
- Elevated DOM concentrations and altered composition in drinking water sources pose risks for disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular-level mechanisms by which rainstorm-altered DOM influences DBP formation and cytotoxicity.
- To investigate the impact of altered DOM composition on the efficacy of conventional water treatment processes.
- To provide evidence for the need for improved stormwater management and DBP mitigation strategies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of DOM composition in source waters before and after rainstorm events using high-resolution mass spectrometry.
- Quantification of total organic halogen (TOX) formation and assessment of drinking water cytotoxicity post-disinfection.
- Evaluation of the removal efficiency of chlorine-reactive DOM components by coagulation-precipitation and ozonation-biological activated carbon (O3-BAC) treatment.
Main Results:
- Rainstorm events led to increased DOM concentrations and a shift towards more chlorine-reactive DOM components.
- Disinfection of post-rainstorm water resulted in a ~46% increase in TOX and a four-fold increase in cytotoxicity.
- Conventional treatment processes showed limited effectiveness in removing rainstorm-induced chlorine-reactive DOM, leading to higher DBP formation in treated water.
Conclusions:
- Rainstorm-altered DOM increases the challenge for drinking water treatment plants, leading to higher DBP formation.
- Molecular-level changes in DOM, characterized by increased heteroatom content and reduced saturation, correlate with higher DBP yields.
- Effective stormwater management and advanced DBP mitigation strategies are crucial to address the risks posed by climate change-induced alterations in source water quality.
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