ANYL 326 |
| Humood F. Al-Mudhaf, Abdel-Sattar I. Abu-Shady, and Michael D. Wichman. |
| Kuwait is located in an arid area characterized by severe weather conditions with very low rainfall and consequently absent of rivers and lakes. Kuwait generates potable water through desalination of seawater. The distilled water produced from desalination plants is blended with 5-10% brackish water, chlorinated, and pumped to the distribution system. During the period from December, 2003 to May, 2005, water samples were collected between 9 to 21 times from each of 12 fixed locations representing the different desalination plants. Two samples were collected from each location. The first sample was collected from outside the location just before passing through the plumbing and into the storage tank, and the second sample was collected from an inside tap after passing through the plumbing and storage tank. Most of the collected samples were analyzed for anions, trace metals, trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and extractable semivolatiles (SVs) using appropriate US-EPA methods. Measured values for the anions and inorganic disinfection byproducts show that nitrite, bromide, bromate, chlorate, and chlorite were detected in very few samples. Nitrate, sulfate, and ortho-phosphate were detected in nearly all samples collected. Elemental analysis was performed for up to 26 elements in all collected samples and found to be within acceptable levels, except for a few elements which exceeded the U.S. Drinking Water Standard. Samples were analyzed for dalapon, 54 VOCs including the THMs and 9 HAAs. Dibromomethane, THMs, and HAAs were found at appreciable concentrations in all samples except for chloroform which was also detected frequently, but at relatively low concentrations. All samples were analyzed for 25 to 33 semivolatile compounds and adipates, phthalates, few polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and dinitrotoluenes were detected in several samples. All other study analytes were not detected above the established method detection limit (MDL). |
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Assuring Water Purity
8:30 AM-12:00 PM, Wednesday, 29 March 2006 Georgia World Congress Center -- B214, Oral
Division of Analytical Chemistry |