Abstract

This report describes the results of research done in 1992 after the occurrence of bromate during the production of drinking water. A survey was carried out among five drinking water plants ; surface waters of the rivers Rhine and Meuse were included as well. Bromate is only occasionnally present in the raw water, during treatment and in finished drinking water (<10 mug/l). The results do not give conclusions on the behaviour of bromate during treatment processes. Experiments at pilot plant level show that bromate can be formed during treatment with ozone. The ozone dose seems to be important. The addition of hydrogenperoxide enhances the concentration of bromate. The removal of bromate by granular activated carbon filtration has been examined insufficiently. The analytical method will be developed further. A protocol could be developed to describe the risks of the use of ozone when the maximum admissible concentration of bromate has been achieved.