Potential Links Between Eutrophication and the Formation of Carcinogens in Drinking Water

ABSTRACT

Eutrophication in lakes and reservoirs is a recreational problem and a drinking water quality problem. A major concern is trihalomethane (THM) formation from the reaction of chlorine, a disinfectant, with organic matter in natural water during drinking water treatment. Trihalomethanes, such as chloroform, are known or suspected carcinogens. Algae and allochthonous humic substances are known contributors to the THM precursor pool. Other in-reservoir precursor sources, macrophytes, and sediments, have not been investigated. The authors examined precursor generation in an Ohio water supply reservoir. A three-year input-output study demonstrated that 30 percent of the precursors entering the treatment plant were generated within the reservoir. Laboratory experiments revealed that macrophytes and sediments produce THM precursors. Estimated THM precursor contributions to the reservoir from macrophyte growth and sediment release were small, but algal productivity and macrophyte decomposition may contribute more than one-third of the precursors during the summer.