Survey of DOC and UV measurement practices with implications for SUVA determination

This article presents the results of a survey conducted to determine practices currently being utilized by drinking water practitioners and researchers to measure dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and ultraviolet (UV) absorbances that are also used for specific UV‐absorbance (SUVA) determinations. Overall survey results show general compliance with current US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) requirements, but there are major differences among practices in the areas where no specific USEPA guidelines or recommendations exist. Inconsistencies among various USEPA requirements and referenced documents (e.g., Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater ) appear to create confusion for some survey participants in selected areas, particularly with respect to filter selection (pore size and type), filter cleaning, and sample filtration. It is expected that the survey results presented here will serve as a useful resource to drinking water practitioners and researchers on issues related to DOC and UV measurements and will provide valuable information for developing a unified SUVA protocol in a current AWWA Research Foundation project.