Organic matter in miocene water: occurrence and removal. Case study

In Poland, over 70% of the water taken from the environment for human consumption is sourced from ground water. The most significant technological problem associated with water treatment, apart from significant amounts of iron and manganese, is the presence of organic matter and the color associated with it. Elevated values of parameters such as total organic carbon (TOC) result from numerous layers of lignite within the aquifer, enriching the extracted water with humic acids. Organic matter in water serves as a source of carbon and energy for bacterial growth and development, contributing to the formation and development of biofilm in the water distribution network. The use of chlorine-based disinfection for microbiological stability leads to the generation of disinfection by-products such as chloroform. This article presents a preliminary analysis of the efficiency of removing DBP precursors from Miocene water, in the water supply system in Środa Wielkopolska. The research was conducted for water after classical treatment, including aeration with filtration, as well as after the application of coagulation process using four different pre-hydrolyzed aluminum coagulants from the PAX series. In addition to typical indicators such as color, TOC, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), chemical oxygen demand (COD KMnO4), UV absorbance, the biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) was also determined to assess the presence of organic compounds that can potentially serve as a source of carbon and energy to support bacterial growth and development in the water distribution network. The research results serve as the basis for developing a model for chloroform generation in the water distribution network in Środa Wielkopolska for different water intake conditions, varying water quality, and different treatment methods.