Study of water treatment effects on organic volatiles in drinking water.

Volatile organics were determined during all stages of the water treatment process in a municipal water works. Analytical parameters for a quantitative procedure were investigated. The method used allows simultaneous determination of both halogenated and non-halogenated purgeable organics. Approximately 70 substances were identified by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry with capillary columns. Well water contained considerable quantities of aliphatic and aromatic substances. Halocarbons were formed during both steps of a double chlorination procedure, but the largest quantity was generated during the first step. Only tetrachloroethylene was present in untreated surface water in significant quantities. Most hydrocarbons were carried through the treatment process from the raw water to the finished water with little change in concentration.