United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Municipal Environmental Research
Laboratory
Cincinnati OH 45268
Research and Development
EPA-600/S2-81-089 July 1981
Project Summary
Sources of Halogenated
Hydrocarbons in an
Urban Water Supply
W. C. Elbert
The sources of halogenated hydro-
carbons in the Passaic River basin
were investigated from several view-
points. The distribution and concen-
tration of both low- and high-boiling
halogenated hydrocarbons and halo-
genated pesticides were determined
in the following surveys: (1) general
stream, (2) sewage treatment plant
effluent, (3) industrial waste treatment
plant effluent, and (4) source, finished
and delivered drinking water.
Intensive sampling programs cen-
tered around the variation of halogen-
ated material contained in both raw
and finished drinking water processed
at the Passaic Valley Treatment Plant
located in Little Falls, N.J. Intensive
studies using short- and long-sampling
frequencies showed that resulting
halogenated hydrocarbon concentra-
tions varied to a greater extent when a
smaller sampling period was used.
Additional investigations of trihalo-
methane formation potential and rate
of trihalomethane production for
stream samples were performed.
This Project Summary was devel-
oped by EPA's Municipal Environmen-
tal Research Laboratory, Cincinnati,
OH, to announce key findings of the
research project that is fully docu-
mented in a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
information at back).
Introduction
One of our major water quality prob-
lems is the presence of halogenated
organics in water supplies and the
formation of certain halocarbons. This
summary presents the results of re-
search on the sources and nature of
such halocarbons in a highly urbanized
watershed.
The Passaic River in Little Falls, N.J.,
was selected as the study area because
it represents one of the major water
supplies in the northern part of the State
of New Jersey.
The purpose of this study was to
investigate the extent of contamination
of the Passaic River by halogenated
organic compounds and to determine
the influence of chlorination at a drinking
water treatment plant on the concentra-
tion of halogenated material in the
finished water. The nature, source,
concentration, distribution, and variation
of halogenated organics in the water
supply and their potential to form addi-
tional halogenated organics during
chlorination will indicate the procedures
required to reduce the contamination
levels of the finished water.
The sources of halogenated hydro-
carbons in the Passaic River basin have
been investigated from several view-
points. The distribution and concentra-
tion of both low- and high-boiling
halogenated hydrocarbons and halo-
genated pesticides were determined in
the following surveys: (1) general stream,
(2) sewage treatment plant effluent, (3)
industrial waste treatment plant effluent,
and (4) source, finished and delivered
drinking water.
-------
Procedures
For all halogenated organics, grab
sampling techniques were used.
Twenty-two volatile halogenated
organics (Table 1) were potentially
determined by purge and trap gas
chromatographic procedures coupled
with Hall electrolytic conductivity or
mass spectrometric detection. Also,
liquid-liquid extraction using n-pentane
as the solvent, followed by packed
column gas chromatography and elec-
tron capture detection, was routinely
employed.
Fourteen high-boiling organochlorine
pesticides and PCB's (Table 2) were
routinely measured (when present) by
liquid-liquid extraction and steam distil-
lation procedures followed by gas
chromatography and electron capture
detection.
Five chlorophenols (Table 3) were
determined by an aqueous acylation
procedure followed by solvent extraction
and gas chromatography with electron
capture detection.
Results and Conclusions
The results of this study may be
divided into two parts: halogenated
compounds found in the source water
and halogenated compounds formed
during chlorination.
1. Quantitative analysis revealed
that during summer samplings,
chloroform was the predominant
purgeable halogenated hydrocar-
bon observed in the Passaic River
and its tributaries. During colder
months (all under ice cover), meth-
ylene chloride was the predomi-
nant halomethane. Additional
purgeable halogenated organics
detected in the source water above
the Little Falls water treatment
plant included: 1,1,1 -trichloro-
ethane, tetrachloroethylene, bro-
modichloromethane, 1,1,2-tri-
chloroethane, and dibromometh-
ane. Dominant pesticides observed
were alpha- and beta-BHC, and
some polychlonnated biphenyls
(such as Arochlor 1254) were fre-
quently detected. Of the chloro-
phenols, trichlorophenol had the
greatest distribution followed by
2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,6-dichloro-
phenol, tetrachlorophenol, and
pentachlorophenol.
2. Trihalomethane concentrations
always increased in the water
samples after chlorination, and
trihalomethane formation poten-
tials in stream samples ranged
from 66 to 282 /jg/L total tri-
halomethanes.
Recommendations
After assessing the collected data and
then evaluating the trends present in
the data, the following set of recom-
mendations were advanced—recom-
mendations directed specifically toward
protecting and enhancing the quality of
potable water: (1) Require routine sched-
ule of watershed monitoring to control
the discharge of halogenated materials
that enter the water treatment facility.
(2) Monitor municipal and industrial
discharges into the watershed. (3)
Institute simple and rapid test proce-
dures to ensure the quality of raw and
finished water. (4) Monitor treatment
modification, such as disinfectant appli-
cation, to minimize trihalomethane
formation.
The full report was submitted in ful-
fillment of Grant No. R804394 by
Rutgers, The State University, New
Brunswick, N.J., under the sponsorship
of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. The authors of the full report
were J.V. Hunter and T. Sabatino of the
Department of Environmental Science,
Cook College, Rutgers, The State
University.
Table 3. Chlorophenols Measured
4-Chlorophenol
2,4 -Dichlorophenol
2,6-Dichlorophenol
Trichlorophenol
Pentachlorophenol
Table 1. Purgeable Organohalides Measured
Fluoroform
Methyl Chloride
Methyl Bromide
Vinyl Chloride
Chloroform
1,2-Dichloroethane
1,1,1 -Trichloroethane
Carbontetrachloride
Trichloroethylene
Dichlorobromomethane
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
Methylene chloride
Dibromochloromethane
1,2-Dibromoethane
Tetrachloroethylene
Bromoform
Diiodomethane
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
m-dichlorobenzene
p - dichlorobenzene
o -dichlorobenzene
1,2,4- Trichlorobenzene
Table 2. High-Boiling Organochlorine Compounds Measured
alpha-BHC
Lindane
Heptachlor
Aldrin
Heptachlor Epoxide
p.p' DDE
Dieldrin
Endrin
o.p' DDT
p.p' DDT
p.p' ODD
Mirex
PCB's as Arochlor 1254
Gamma-chlordane
-------
The EPA author was W. C. Elbert, who is with the Municipal Environmental
Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH 45268.
Alan A. Stevens is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Sources of Halogenated Hydrocarbons in an
Urban Water Supply," (Order No. PB 81-208 191; Cost: $11.00, subject to
change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati. OH 45268
> US OOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1981 -757-012/7223
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Postage and
Fees Paid
Environmental
Protection
Agency
EPA 335
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED
U i> c '" V TK
r'RGlu'' «=•
23 0 5
U
------- |