Natural organic matter (NOM) causes several problems in drinking water treatment and distribution. NOM is a mixture of compounds with different characteristics, which make its characterization and removal particularly challenging. Removing different NOM fractions can require different techniques, and removal is beneficial for many water treatment processes (e.g., membranes, UV disinfection) and NOM removal is beneficial for lowering the formation of disinfection byproducts.@en

In recent years, there has been an international focus on removal of naturally occurring organic matter (NOM) during water treatment. This is because NOM is known to contribute to several water treatment challenges, such as disinfection by-product (DBP) formation, membrane fouling, oxidant demand, biogrowth in distribution systems, and color in water. Investigations of NOM removal have also revealed the influence of NOM on post-filtration processes, suggesting that improved NOM removal helps to improve the performance of these processes by making them more efficient and more cost-effective. This paper will focus on the impact of NOM removal on post-filtration processes, including UV disinfection, chlorine disinfection, granular activated carbon (GAC), and biostability.@en