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A significant increase in the content of natural organic matter (NOM) has been observed in several surface water sources in Norway during the past 10–12 years. Similar observations are reported also from est sites in Europe and North America. Water works in the southern part of Norway have experienced a doubling and in some cases even a tripling of source water color levels during the last decade. Other important characteristics of NOM, e.g. the specific UV absorption (SUVA), have changed as well. The change in raw water quality increases the required NOM removal capacity in water treatment, and significantly affects treatment process selection, design and operation. However, the operational impacts on water treatment processes are poorly quantified. This paper addresses the observed NOM increase in parts of Europe and North America. Although the reasons are not fully understood or identified, possible causes are presented and discussed. Factors like climate change or variability, especially alteration in precipitation patterns and land-use, as well as reductions in anthropogenic sulfur loadings seem relevant. From pilot testing on relevant raw waters, major operational impacts of increasing NOM and SUVA levels on coagulation-contact filtration processes are identified and quantified. As an illustration, an increase in raw water color from 20 to 35 mg Pt L−1 increased the required coagulant dose, sludge production, number of backwashes per day and residual TOC by 64%, 64%, 87%, and 26%, respectively. In addition, hydraulic capacity and filter run time decreased by 10% and 47%, respectively.

Optimisation of coagulation-direct filtration processes with respect to efficient removal of humic substances, i.e. natural organic matter (NOM) has gained a lot of focus in many countries over the last years. This paper presents experimental results from pilot scale research studies aimed at optimising the coagulation-direct filtration process applied to soft and humic raw waters with low turbidity and alkalinity levels. Comprehensive tests of 3 types of raw waters with different NOM content, 5 types of coagulants, and 3 calcium sources for the purpose of corrosion control have been conducted. Removal efficiencies with respect to relevant water quality parameters are presented, with typical relationships between raw water NOM content, coagulant dose requirements and pH. Generally, when applying metal-based coagulants, residual metal concentration was the critical parameter regarding minimum coagulant dose requirements. Typical NOM removal efficiencies were in the range of 75-90% and 40-70% with respect to colour and organic carbon, respectively. Optimum pH conditions for the removal of NOM and/or residual metals do not always coincide with that of turbidity. The experiments also showed that poly-aluminium and ferric chlorides might have some benefits over alum in terms of dose requirements and range of optimum pH values, and that chitosan may be used for colour removal with good results.