Abstract:
During the 27 years since the publication of the first edition of this textbook,
many changes have occurred in the field of public water supply that impact
directly the theory and practice of water treatment, the subject of this book.
The following are some important changes:
1. Improved techniques and new instrumental methods for the measurement of constituents in water, providing lower detection limits
and the ability to survey a broader array of constituents.
2. The emergence of new chemical constituents in water whose significance is not understood well and for which standards are not
available. Many of these constituents have been identified using the
new techniques cited above, while others are continuing to find their
way into water as a result of the synthesis and development of new
compounds. Such constituents may include disinfection by-products,
pharmaceuticals, household chemicals, and personal care products.
3. Greater understanding of treatment process fundamentals including
reaction mechanisms and kinetics, through continued research. This
new understanding has led to improved designs and operational
strategies for many drinking water treatment processes.
4. The development and implementation of new technologies for water
treatment, including membrane technologies (e.g., membrane filtration and reverse osmosis), ultraviolet light (UV) disinfection, and
advanced oxidation.
5. The development and implementation of new rules to deal with
the control of pathogenic microorganisms, while at the same time
minimizing the formation of disinfection by-products
