Alternative technologies to disinfect drinking water such as ultraviolet (UV) disinfection are becoming more widespread. The benefits of UV disinfection include reduced risk of microbial pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and reduced production of regulated drinking water disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The objective of this research was to determine if mammalian cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity varied in response to different chlorination protocols with and without polychromatic medium pressure UV (MPUV) and monochromatic low pressure UV (LPUV) disinfection technologies. The specific aims were to analyze the mammalian cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of concentrated organic fractions from source water before and after chlorination and to determine the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the concentrated organic fractions from water samples treated with UV alone or UV before or after chlorination. Exposure of granular activated carbon-filtered Ohio River water to UV alone resulted in the lowest levels of mammalian cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. With combinations of UV and chlorine, the lowest levels of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were observed with MPUV radiation. The best combined UV plus chlorine methodology that generated the lowest cytotoxicity and genotoxicity employed chlorination first followed by MPUV radiation. These data may prove important in the development of multibarrier methods of pathogen inactivation of drinking water, while limiting unintended toxic consequences.

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A 20-month pilot-scale study was conducted to examine the impact of temperature on the performance of an anaerobic biological contractor used to treat perchlorate-contaminated water. The contractor was successfully acclimated with indigenous microorganisms. Influent temperatures varied from 1.4 to 30 degrees C. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effects of temperature on perchlorate removal, nitrate removal, nitrite formation, dissolved oxygen consumption, sulfide production, and nutrient acetate consumption. The results confirmed that consistent biological perchlorate removal to 2 microg /L is feasible at temperatures above 10 degrees C. Effluent concentrations of perchlorate, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen varied inversely with temperature, while sulfide varied positively with temperature. Under the conditions that prevailed during this study, 10 degrees C was a threshold temperature below which microbial activity, including perchlorate reduction, decreased dramatically.

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Ultraviolet (UV) light with hydrogen peroxide degrades a wide array of organic micropollutants. However, natural organic matter (NOM) interferes with contaminant destruction. Seven emerging contaminants were evaluated by UV pilot‐scale and collimated beam experiments. UV absorbance scans demonstrated changes in NOM due to radical attack. Waters with different types and amounts of NOM were examined. As NOM increased, electrical energy per order (EE/O) requirements for destruction increased. EE/O increased similarly for the contaminants. Methyl‐tert‐butyl‐ether destruction and EE/O values correlated well with specific UV absorption for all experiments. Both type and amount of NOM should be considered in the design of UV/hydrogen peroxide facilities.