Power Plant Bromide Discharges and Potential Effects on DBP Formation

Abstract

Power plant wastewaters contain bromide, and their discharge to the environment can increase bromide concentrations in surface waters used for potable water supply, increasing brominated disinfection byproducts in finished water.Drinking water utilities should assess upstream bromide sources to determine their contribution to bromide and brominated disinfection byproducts at drinking water intakes.Analysis of bromide sources and receiving water conditions helps in developing control strategies for bromide discharges that affect drinking water supplies.

The Clean Water Act Turns 50: A Critical Partner to the Safe Drinking Water Act

“…Bromide is added to coal to control mercury emissions, so this is a classic cross-media transfer problem on top of a conflict in statutory objectives between the Clean Air Act, the CWA, and the SDWA. Still, EPA did not restrict bromide discharges at all facilities in the 2015 Steam Electric Power Generating Effluent Guidelines, recommending only site-specific analyses to support individual permitting decisions (VanBriesen et al 2021). Likewise, the 2020 reconsideration rule to the ELG requires bromide controls only for those facilities opting for the "voluntary incentives program," which gives additional time for compliance in exchange for stricter standards (85 FR 64650).…”

Role of Refined Coal Use in Power Plant Effects on Downstream Drinking Water Quality

“…Wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) units installed to reduce sulfur dioxide and mercury air pollution also capture halogens such as bromine (Br) and iodine (I). − Release of FGD wastewater into surface waters can lead to elevated halogen concentrations in drinking water sources. Use of bromide-containing source waters at drinking water plants leads to elevated levels of harmful disinfection byproducts (DBPs). − Prior work has described the connection of power plant wastewater discharges and effects on downstream drinking water. ,− …”