Retno Wulandari, Nur Novilina Arifianingsih, Wisnu Prayogo, Dion Awfa, Rifka Noor Azizah, Mhd. Fauzi, Mohamad Rangga Sururi, Mohamad Firman Solihat, Fahd Maximillian Amin, Abiyyu Kaysan Admawidya, Muammar Qadafi
In tropical peatland regions, direct chlorination of peat water is a common household practice to improve clarity and ensure microbial safety. However, this simple treatment can produce toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs) due to the high organic matter and acidity of peat water. This perspective examines the dual nature of chlorination—its effectiveness in removing bacteria and reducing color, versus its role in generating hazardous halogenated compounds. Chlorine reacts with humic and fulvic substances, yielding trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, and other DBPs with mutagenic and carcinogenic potential. In the absence of controlled dosing and residual monitoring, households often use excessive chlorine, allowing prolonged reactions and increasing DBP concentrations. Field observations in Indonesian peatland communities indicate that chlorination is typically guided by visual cues rather than quantitative control, leading to a false sense of safety. The paper highlights the urgent need for risk awareness, simple pre-treatment steps to remove precursors, and practical dosing guidance to balance microbial and chemical safety. Future efforts should emphasize locally appropriate technologies such as biochar filtration, natural coagulants, or hybrid UV-chlorination systems. Ensuring safe drinking water for peatland populations requires integrating scientific understanding, community education, and policy action to reduce DBP exposure without compromising microbial protection. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2026.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Bhayangkara Jakarta Raya, Jl. Harsono RM No. 67, Jakarta, 12550, Indonesia; Water and Wastewater Engineering Research Group, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha No. 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia; Department of Environmental Engineering, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jl. William Iskandar Ps. V, Medan, 20221, Indonesia; Department of Environmental Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Jl. Terusan Ryacudu, Lampung, 35365, Indonesia; Study Program of Environmental Engineering, Universitas Singaperbangsa Karawang, Jl. HS.Ronggo Waluyo, Karawang, 41361, Indonesia; Department of Environmental Engineering, Institut Teknologi Nasional Bandung, Jl. PHH6, Mustafa No. 23, Bandung, 40124, Indonesia; Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Politeknik Kesehatan Bandung, Jl. Pajajaran No.56, Bandung, 40171, Indonesia; SMA Negeri 2 Surabaya, Jalan Wijaya Kusuma, Surabaya, 60272, Indonesia; Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technologies, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bandung, 40135, Indonesia
