Toxic Substances in Water

Apart from their importance in hazardous waste management and groundwater contamination, toxic substances may also significantly influence the quality of surface water and drinking water. Toxic substances are released to surface waters through industrial and municipal discharges, use of agricultural chemicals, and runoff/leachate from waste dumps. The concentration of most toxic compounds in drinking water can be greatly reduced through carbon filtration, aeration, and other treatment methods; however, the need to chlorinate drinking water produces numerous toxic compounds as byproducts of the process. Many of these substances are known or suspected carcinogens.