Challenges and opportunities for mitigating the risk of trihalomethane exposure in public water supplies in Queensland

Edmund Wedam Kanmiki; Yaqoot Fatima; Fran Boyle; Phil Min Choi; Md. Mehedi Hasan; Abdullah A. Mamun

doi:10.1007/s43832-025-00290-2

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Challenges and opportunities for mitigating the risk of trihalomethane exposure in public water supplies in Queensland

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Challenges and opportunities for mitigating the risk of trihalomethane exposure in public water supplies in Queensland

Edmund Wedam Kanmiki, Yaqoot Fatima, Fran Boyle, Phil Min Choi, Md. Mehedi Hasan and Abdullah A. Mamun

Discover Water, Vol.5(1), pp.1-16

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-025-00290-2

Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection

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Abstract

water safety

disinfection by-products

chlorination

trihalomethane

water quality

Other Collaborations

Thompson Institute Special Collection

Trihalomethanes (THMs), water disinfection byproducts resulting from the reaction of chlorine with organic matter during drinking water disinfection, pose potential long-term health risks. This study investigated the challenges, opportunities, and management strategies employed by Drinking Water Service Providers (DWSPs) to minimise THM formation and concentrations in their water supplies. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with personnel from water treatment and supply agencies representing 23 Local Government Areas in Queensland, Australia. Data analysis utilised the situational analysis conceptual framework alongside the reflexive thematic analytical procedure to identify key themes and contextual factors. Occasional THM exceedances were attributed to challenges associated with extreme weather conditions, geographical location issues, staffing limitations, inadequate resources, and aging infrastructure. Current preventive and management strategies use by DWSPs included enhanced coagulation, proactive flushing, setting intervention trigger points, powdered activated carbon dosing, aeration, chlorine gas application, increased sampling, and water source blending. Opportunities for improved THM management encompassed the strategic utilisation of diverse water sources, leveraging internal expertise through knowledge sharing, modifying procedures to reduce chlorine re-dosing and water age, fostering collaboration through THM management groups, and exploring emerging technologies like nanofiltration, ion exchange, and advanced catalytic oxidation. This study provides insights into the challenges, opportunities, and existing strategies used for THM management in Queensland. The identified measures provide actionable guidance for water utilities aiming to enhance drinking water safety and reduce public health risks associated with THM exposure. By adopting these approaches, DWSPs can proactively minimise THM formation and ensure safe public water.

Details

Title: Challenges and opportunities for mitigating the risk of trihalomethane exposure in public water supplies in Queensland
Authors: Edmund Wedam Kanmiki (Corresponding Author) - ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course
Yaqoot Fatima - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Fran Boyle - The University of Queensland
Phil Min Choi - Queensland Health
Md. Mehedi Hasan - The University of Queensland
Abdullah A. Mamun - The University of Queensland
Publication details: Discover Water, Vol.5(1), pp.1-16
Publisher: Springer Cham
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1007/s43832-025-00290-2
ISSN: 2730-647X
Copyright note: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Data Availability: The datasets generated and analysed during this study are not publicly available due to the possibility of compromising individual privacy of study participants but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Grants: ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, CE200100025, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Exposure to Trihalomethanes in pregnancy and birth outcomes in Queensland: integrated data analysis and case studies for better policy and health outcomes, 1198495, National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - NHMRC
Organisation Unit: Thompson Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991171942202621
Output Type: Journal article

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