Spatiotemporal dynamics of dissolved organic matter and disinfection by-products formation potential of Shengzhong Lake in southwest China

The quality and quantity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in lakes as well as its environmental effects associated with the unintended disinfection by-products (DBPs) have received continuous attention. This work investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of DOM in Shengzhong Lake in southwest China and the formed DBPs during the chlorine disinfection process. The results showed that lake water in summer had significantly higher dissolved oxygen and dissolved organic carbon than that in winter. In contrast, DOM in winter demonstrated an obviously higher aromaticity and molecular weight than that in summer. Four fluorescence components, i.e., terrestrial humic-like substances (C1), protein-like substances (C2), and microbial humic-like substances (C3 and C4), were identified, and their relative abundance followed in the order of C3 > C4 > C2 > C1 in winter and C4 > C3 > C1 > C2 in summer. The formation potential of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids in winter was higher and lower than that in summer, which was mainly ascribed to the content of aromatic and hydrophobic substances. Compared to the significant seasonal dynamic, the spatial variation of DOM and the formed DBPs was not obvious. This work sheds light on the spatial-temporal distribution of DOM and the potentially formed DBPs in Shengzhong Lake, and will be helpful for understanding the biogeochemical cycle of carbon and assessing the drinking water safety.