Disinfection Byproducts

Unintended Consequences

Water treatment plants have been using chlorine-related products to make drinking water safe for more than 100 years, virtually eliminating threats of E.coli, cholera, typhoid fever and other water-borne illnesses. But unintended consequences of that process—in the form of disinfection byproducts, aka toxic trash—have added compounds that can cause cancer and pregnancy complications for consumers.

The Offenders

Two types of disinfection byproducts, trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, are suspected of causing certain cancers and problems with pregnancies. The EPA’s maximum allowed amount for these chemicals is 80 and 60 parts per billion, respectively. That might still be too high—researchers in Taiwan concluded in a 2007 study that people face twice the odds of dying from bladder cancer if they consume water with more than 21 parts per billion of trihalomethanes.

Some water treatment plants have decided to use another disinfection process, using chloramines instead of chlorine. But that’s just led to new harmful byproducts that are toxic to kidney dialysis patients and toxic to fish.

A Better Option

Water treatment doesn’t have to create cancer-causing toxic trash.

Innova’s line of specialty blended chemicals is the solution. Our team of industry-recognized experts will evaluate your water treatment plant and determine the best course of action for you. Our water-treatment solution will significantly reduce your use of chlorine-related disinfectants, resulting in significant reductions in disinfectant byproducts.