Monitoring Trihalomethane Levels. N. M. Morrison and M. Dionne, Molson Breweries of Canada Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2L 2R5. J. Am. Soc. Brew. Chem. 40:0129, 1982.

Trihalomethanes (THMs) have been found in all chlorinated drinking water. Municipal drinking water is generally the sole source of water used by breweries. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency liquid/liquid extraction procedure followed by analysis with a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector was used to determine the levels of THMs in water supplied to 10 Canadian breweries. These levels were all well below maximum acceptable health limits set by governmental regulatory agencies. Brewery in-plant water treatment systems were monitored and found to provide brewing water of better quality with regard to THM content than the municipal water. In a small sampling of market beers, the THM levels detected were lower than those in any of the drinking waters analyzed.

Keywords: Chlorination, In-plant water treatment, Liquid/liquid extraction, Trihalomethanes, Water