New ASTM International standard will help test water quality

A new ASTM International standard will help to measure organic compounds that can cause significant issues, including pollution and carcinogen generation, in water. ASTM’s water committee (D19) developed the new standard, which will soon be published as D7936.

“This standard is focused on delivering clean water by monitoring the contamination levels that lead to implementation of the right treatment methods to achieve the desired quality of water for various applications, including drinking purposes,” says ASTM International member Vishnu Rajasekharan.

The test method described in the new standard covers the catalysed hydroxyl radical oxidation system for in-stream or laboratory analysis of total organic carbon, total carbon, and total inorganic carbon in drinking water, wastewater, industrial process water, and effluent water. The test method can be used in the field or in laboratory settings using the same sample procedure and method.

“Online total organic carbon analysis provides a complete picture of the entire water treatment process for achieving higher operational efficiencies while complying with the mandated local, state, and national regulations,” says Rajasekharan. “This saves plants on both operational and compliance-related costs.”

The personnel who will find the new standard useful include water utility managers; industry process control operators and specialists; technical leads who develop and optimise water treatment processes; and collection and distribution managers in wastewater and drinking water applications.

This effort directly relates to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #6 on clean water and sanitation.