Parndana (South Australia) – Trihalomethanes

Breaches to Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Levels Only

2/12/2013 Parndana Town Supply Trihalomethanes – Total 255 ug/L

20/1/2014 Parndana Town Supply Trihalomethanes – Total 288 ug/L

20/2/2017 Parndana Town Supply Trihalomethanes – Total 251 ug/L

15/5/2017 Parndana Town Supply Trihalomethanes – Total 271 ug/L

13/6/2017 Parndana Town Supply Trihalomethanes – Total 304 ug/L

10-Jul-17 Parndana  Trihalomethanes – Total 263 µg/L
7-Aug-17 Parndana Trihalomethanes – Total 277 µg/L
30-Oct-17 Parndana Trihalomethanes – Total 271 µg/L
16-Apr-18 Parndana Trihalomethanes – Total 273 µg/L

23/4/2019 Parndana Trihalomethanes – Total 283 ug/l
17/7/2019 Parndana Trihalomethanes – Total 272 ug/l

2018/19: Parndana (South Australia) 283ug/L (max), 205.6ug/L (av.)

17/2/20: Parndana (Town Supply) Trihalomethanes 323mg/L

20/4/20: Parndana (Town Supply) Trihalomethanes 343mg/L

18/5/20: Parndana (Town Supply) Trihalomethanes 264mg/L

2019/20: Parndana (Town Supply) Trihalomethanes av. 233.18ug/L

17/8/20: Parndana Town Supply  Trihalomethanes 361ug/L

Trihalomethanes Australian Guideline Level 250μg/L (0.25mg/L)

Why and how are THMs formed?
“When chlorine is added to water with organic material, such as algae, river weeds, and decaying leaves, THMs are formed. Residual chlorine molecules react with this harmless organic material to form a group of chlorinated chemical compounds, THMs. They are tasteless and odourless, but harmful and potentially toxic. The quantity of by-products formed is determined by several factors, such as the amount and type of organic material present in water, temperature, pH, chlorine dosage, contact time available for chlorine, and bromide concentration in the water. The organic matter in water mainly consists of a) humic substance, which is the organic portion of soil that remains after prolonged microbial decomposition formed by the decay of leaves, wood, and other vegetable matter; and b) fulvic acid, which is a water soluble substance of low molecular weight that is derived from humus”. Source: https://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/in

Parndana (South Australia) Bromoform

15/6/20: Parndana Town Supply Bromoform 0.126mg/L (2019/20 av. 0.064mg/L)

6/7/20: Parndana Town Supply Bromoform 118ug/L

20/7/20: Parndana Town Supply Bromoform 146ug/L

17/8/20: Parndana Town Supply Bromoform 166ug/L

16/3/21: Parndana Town Supply Bromoform 100ug/L

2021/22: Parndana Town Supply  Bromoform 134ug/L (max), 70.16ug/L (av.)

2022/23: Parndana (South Australia) Bromoform 106ug/L (max), 74.83ug/L (av.)

WHO Bromoform Guideline 100ug/L. Bromoform is a Trihalomethane, which combined with Dibromochloromethane, Bromodichloromethane and Chloroform amount to Total Trihalomethanes. Trihalomethanes (combined) have an Australian Guideline of 250ug/L

Natural production of bromoform by phytoplankton and seaweeds in the ocean is thought to be its predominant source in the environment.^[5] However, locally significant amounts of bromoform enter the environment formed as disinfection byproducts known as trihalomethanes when chlorine is added to drinking water to kill bacteria. It is somewhat soluble in water and readily evaporates into the air. Bromoform is the main trihalomethane produced in beachfront salt water swimming pools with concentrations as high as 1.2 ppm (parts per million). Concentrations in freshwater pools are 1000 times lower.^[6] Occupational skin exposure limits are set at 0.5 ppm

Other Individual THM’s 2020

20/4/20: Parndana (Town Supply) Dibromochloromethane 154ug/L (max). 2019/20 av. 98ug/L

17/2/20: Parndana Town Supply Bromodichloromethane 0.106mg/L (2019/20 av. 0.052mg/L)

17/8/20: Parndana Town Supply Dibromochloromethane 144ug/L

17/11/20: Parndana Town Supply Dibromochloromethane 103ug/L

Parndana (South Australia) – Total Haloacetic Acids

17/8/21: Parndana (South Australia) Total Haloacetic Acid (HAA 9) 108ug/L (max) 97ug/L (av.)

15/8/22: Parndana (South Australia) Total Haloacetic Acid (HAA 9) 104ug/L (max) 96.5ug/L (av.)

“Chloroacetic acids are produced in drinking water as by-products of the reaction between chlorine and naturally occurring humic and fulvic acids. Concentrations reported overseas range up to 0.16mg/L and are typically about half the chloroform concentration. The chloroacetic acids are used commercially as reagents or intermediates in the preparation of a wide variety of chemicals. Monochloroacetic acid can be used as a pre-emergent herbicide, dichloroacetic acid as an ingredient in some pharmaceutical products, and trichloroacetic acid as a herbicide, soil sterilant and antiseptic.” Australian Drinking Water Guidelines – National Health and Medical Research Council

Parndana (South Australia) – Haloacetonitriles (Bromochloroacetonitrile)

13/2/23: Parndana (South Australia) – Dibromoacetonitrile 15ug/L (max). (av. 2022/23 10.4ug/L)

“GUIDELINE
Data are inadequate to set guideline values for haloacetonitriles in drinking water
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Haloacetonitriles are formed from organic precursors during chlorination or chloramination of drinking  water. Concentrations of dihaloacetonitriles reported overseas range up to 0.04 mg/L but are typically  less than 0.003 mg/L. Concentrations of trichloroacetonitrile are less than 0.001 mg/L.
Trichloroacetonitrile has been used as an insecticide. No data are available on uses for the other haloacetonitriles.
TYPICAL VALUES IN AUSTRALIAN DRINKING WATER
No data are available on concentrations of haloacetonitriles in Australian drinking waters”. ADWG 2011