2012) Removal of viruses and disinfection by-products at two drinking water treatment plants in southern China, Desalination and Water Treatment, 48:1-3, 221-231,
A B S T R AC TThe removal of viruses and disinfection by-products (DBPs) at two water plants (A and B) in a city of southern China was investigated. Coliphages MS2 and Phix174 were used as indicators of viruses. The results clearly indicated that the removal effi ciency of MS2 and Phix174 was over 99% by conventional coagulation/sedimentation with polyaluminium sulfate chloride (PACS) at Plants A and B. MS2 and Phix174 were not detected in the effl uent of these two plants. However, the removal effi ciency of UV 254 and TOC by coagulation/sedimentation was only 22.05% and 64.57% at Plant A, and 17.64% and 11.89% at Plant B, respectively. The species and amount of DBPs and their formation potential had no signifi cant decrease after coagulation/sedimentation. In biological fi ltration, UV 254 and TOC could be removed 6.62% and 24.50%, respectively. However, more soluble microbial products (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), the precursors of DBPs, were produced. Granular activated carbon (GAC) was effi cient in the removal of UV 254 and TOC, with an effi ciency of 16.18% and 14.85%, respectively. Sand fi ltration, the fi nal process, performed poorly in removing viruses and DBPs precursors. Both the processes of Plants A and B were not effi cient in the removal of DBPs and their precursors.