In attempting to solve their particular water quality problem, the City of Thornton, Colorado, observed some unusual results that may be applicable to other water systems in the country: the method by which chloramines are formed can significantly affect the ultimate water quality; when selecting alternative disinfectants, disinfection byproducts other than those currently regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act should be considered; although one type of contaminant may be avoided through process modification, other, potentially less desirable contaminants may be produced.