Selection and prioritization of organic contaminants for monitoring in the drinking water value chain

The occurrence of organic contaminants in the drinking water value chain is of growing concern for the drinking water industry and its consumers. Because of the need to protect consumer health and retain their confidence on the supply, it is necessary to monitor for organic contaminants of concern to health. However, it is crucial to select and prioritize those organic contaminants of local relevance given the limited resources in developing countries. A generic protocol for the selection and prioritization of organic contaminants for monitoring in the drinking water value chain (from catchment to tap) was developed for use by Rand Water and other water utilities. The protocol was successfully implemented in the Rand Water supply chain resulting in a list of priority organic contaminants. The methodology used, recognizes the use of available information on other databases and the use of criteria tailor made for the drinking water industry.