Parameters (pH, bromide, and temperature) affecting the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) were investigated by chlorinating two geographically different waters in the UK: lowland and upland water. It was expected that THM levels would increase as pH increased whereas HAA levels would decrease with an increase in pH. The lowland water reacted as expected to changes in pH but the upland water did not. The greatest impact of pH was observed in the formation of THMs in the lowland water. The difference in natural organic matter (NOM) structure may account for such differences. Concentration of bromide had a greater impact in the upland water. Reducing the temperature from 20°C to 7°C resulted in a mean decrease of DBP concentration by 50%.Natural organic matter (NOM) is described as an intricate mixture of organic compounds that occurs universally in ground and surface waters. Whilst NOM itself is not problematic, it can be converted to disinfection by-products (DBPs) when disinfectants are used during water treatment (7). In the UK, regulated DBPs include trihalomethanes (THMs -chloroform, bromoform,
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