Disinfection by-products (DBPs) are formed during treatment of water for drinking purposes. Among these oxyhalide DBPs, viz. bromate, chlorate and chlorite are potentially harmful to humans. In the present study packaged drinking water samples of various commercial brands, available in Mumbai, were analysed for bromide, bromate, chlorite and chlorate ions using ion chromatography.

Bank filtration (BF) has emerged as an economical and sustainable water pre-treatment technology for drinking water supply. In this method, subsurface water of a water body moves into the well by seepage. BF wells adjacent to a river or lake pump the stored groundwater abstracted from the surface through aquifers. Chemical and biological contaminants such as turbidity, microbes, dissolved chemicals and natural organics are removed by the channel of aquifers present in the area.