Perchlorate in raw and drinking water sources in England and Wales

Abstract

A well-known use of perchlorate is as a rocket fuel propellant; however, more widespread uses include in munitions and fireworks, and it also occurs naturally. Perchlorate suppresses the thyroid, which can lead to a variety of adverse effects. It is a widespread contaminant in the United States, but limited occurrence data in the United Kingdom exist, and even less for drinking water. Monitoring of 20 raw and treated drinking water sites in England and Wales, covering four seasonal periods, showed that perchlorate is a low-level background contaminant of raw and treated drinking water. Low concentrations (treated drinking water: <0.020–2.073 μg/L, mean 0.747 μg/L) were detected at every higher-risk site. The concentrations were comparable in each of the four sampling exercises and no significant trends were apparent relating to the time of year, the type of risk or the method of chlorination. Limited data showed that removal by ion exchange and granular-activated carbon may occur.