*Chemistry Department, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O BOX 62000–00200, Nairobi, Kenya
**Chemistry Department, Kenya Bureau of Standards, P.O BOX 54974–00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Online published on 5 June, 2014.
Over 1.1 billion people in the world lack access to portable water. Diarrheal and other waterborne diseases cause an estimated 2.2 million deaths per year. Chlorination is a proven water treatment method for municipal water. Concerns have been raised about the potential long term health effects of disinfection by-products to users of chlorinated water. This study investigated the production of trihalomethanes (THMs) and Haloacetic acids (HAAs) in chlorinated tap water from Nairobi City, Kenya. The study was done using Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture (GC-ECD). Tap water samples were collected from ten locations around the city for analysis of THMs and HAAs. The study also investigated the effects of pH, Temperature, Colour, Turbidity, Ultra Violet Absorption and organic carbon. Data obtained was subjected to Microsoft Excel and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Some samples showed significant amount of Chloroforrm:ranging between 7.4μg/L and 13.06μg/L. Other samples showed traces of dibromochloromethane; 1.7μg/L and 6.6μg/L. Results from this study are meant to highlight the problems of chlorine contamination and the need for proper water treatment.
Disinfection By-Product, Nairobi City, Trihalomethanes Concentration, Total Organic Matter (TOC)
