Regional variability of disinfection by-products in Canadian drinking water

The chlorination of drinking water forms various disinfection by-products (DBPs), some of which present potential risks to humans. This study investigates occurrences, trends, and regional and seasonal variability of DPBs in two Canadian provinces: Ontario and Quebec. The findings demonstrate that trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) can be represented better by region-based analysis than by province-based analysis. THMs in summer months are much higher than in cold months, while HAAs show variable results. The seasonal and regional variability of DBPs can have implications for the selection of DBP sampling locations, sampling frequency, regulatory limitations of DBPs, exposure analysis and risk characterization.