Volatile halogenated organics in the water supply system in Athens, Greece

A survey undertaken in Athens has shown that Volatile Halogenated Organics (VHO) are present in chlorinated drinking water; analysis has been performed by purge-and-trap (PAT) gas chromatographic (GC) technique. Samples from different points of the Menidi Treatment Plant (MTP) and the distribution network of Athens were taken and analyzed for VHO. Surface water samples have been collected every month for a period of eight months, and have shown the occurrence of chloroform, dichlorobromomethane, chlorodibromomethane as a result of the chlorination of raw water and of tetrachloroethylene and 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane.