Total Organic Carbon Water Test

What is it?

Total organic carbon is composed of compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, which are abundant in nature and the human body. Total organic carbon is made up of dissolved organic carbon, in addition to particulate organic carbon–these are differentiated by a filtration step, where particulate organic carbon is filtered out of solution, leaving dissolved organic carbon behind. Total organic carbon includes various compounds resulting from the breakdown of plant and soil matter (which can cause streams to appear brownish or yellowish).

Where does it come from?

Organic carbon can enter the environment and drinking water sources from natural and human made sources. Natural sources of organic carbon include the breakdown of plant and soil materials, and human made sources include contamination from wastewater discharge and runoff from areas where pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides that include organic carbon have been applied. Surface water tends to have higher concentrations of organic carbon than groundwater.

How does it affect me?

While organic carbon compounds themselves do not have negative health effects, the compounds that make up total organic carbon can be precursors to disinfection byproducts, which are formed when organic carbon compounds react with disinfectants during drinking water treatment. Elevated concentrations of disinfection byproducts can be harmful to human health.