Evaluation Of Dissolved Organic Matter Fractions Removal Due To Biodegradation

The objective of this study was to evaluate the biodegradability of dissolved organic carbon and organic nitrogen fractions of different composition and origin, as well as to understand how these NOM fractions are removed during full-scale drinking water treatment. Samples across three drinking water plants treating surface waters of different origin were investigated. The observed microbial catabolism of natural organic matter of the whole molecular weight spectrum points out the need for control of all fractions by treatment processes in order to minimize the risk of microbial proliferation in drinking water distribution systems. The results furthermore indicate the importance of an optimised coagulation procedure as the main process to remove to a large extent the high molecular weight DOC and DON including their biodegradable part.