Effects of sampling, shipping, and storage on total organic carbon levels in water samples.

An estimation of the organic content of water has been used for some time as an indicator of water qual i ty (E.P.A. 1975). The carbon adsorption method (CAM) was developed in 1951-52 for this purpose but is no longer recommended (CAPELLI et al . 1977, OTSON et al . 1979). With recent improvements in analytical instrumentation, total organic carbon (TOC) determinations are being used to assess water qual i ty , par t icu lar ly for re la t ive ly pure water (MAIER & SWAIN 1978). Although TOC determinations w i l l not indicate the presence of potent ia l ly harmful chemicals, they are of value in estimating the concentration of organics in water. TOC analysis may be used to monitor industr ia l and municipal waste eff luents as well as water sources containing man-made pollutants and natural ly occurring organics of plant and animal or ig in. The eff ic iency of waste water treatment plants and potable water pur i f icat ion plants can be assessed, and the effectiveness of adsorbents for removal of organics from water (CAPELLI et al. 1978) can be determined, by means of TOC measurements. Also, a correlat ion between trihalomethane levels in f inished water and the organic carbon content of the raw water supply has been found (H.W.C. 1977, SYMONS 1975).