Soft deposits, the key site for microbial growth in drinking water distribution networks

In this project we studied the microbiological quality of soft pipeline deposits removed from drinking water distribution networks during mechanical cleaning. Drinking water and deposit samples were collected from 16 drinking water distribution networks located at eight towns in different parts of Finland. Soft pipeline deposits were found to be the key site for microbial growth in the distribution networks. The microbial numbers in the soft deposits were significantly higher than numbers in running water. The highest microbial numbers were detected in the main deposit pushed ahead by the first swab. The deposits contained high numbers of heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. Also coliform bacteria were often isolated from deposit samples. Manganese and copper in the deposits correlated negatively with the numbers of heterotrophic bacteria. After a year, the viable microbial numbers in the new deposits were almost as high as in the old deposits before the first mechanical cleaning. The bacterial biomass production was higher in the new than in the old deposits.     

Rapid, cultivation-independent assessment of microbial viability in drinking water

Fast and accurate monitoring of chemical and microbiological parameters in drinking water is essential to safeguard the consumer and to improve the understanding of treatment and distribution systems. However, most water utilities and drinking water guidelines still rely solely on time-requiring heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) and plating for faecal indicator bacteria as regular microbiological control parameters. The recent development of relative simple bench-top flow cytometers has made rapid and quantitative analysis of cultivation-independent microbial parameters more feasible than ever before. Here we present a study using a combination of cultivation-independent methods including fluorescence staining (for membrane integrity, membrane potential and esterase activity) combined with flow cytometry and total adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) measurements, to assess microbial viability in drinking water. We have applied the methods to different drinking water samples including non-chlorinated household tap water, untreated natural spring water, and commercially available bottled water. We conclude that the esterase-positive cell fraction, the total ATP values and the high nucleic acid (HNA) bacterial fraction (from SYBR((R)) Green I staining) were most representative of the active/viable population in all of the water samples. These rapid methods present an alternative way to assess the general microbial quality of drinking water as well as specific events that can occur during treatment and distribution, with equal application possibilities in research and routine analysis.     

Comparison of a novel MPN method against the yeast extract agar (YEA) pour plate method for the enumeration of heterotrophic bacteria from drinking water

This study compared the Quanti-Disc most probable number (MPN) test for heterotrophic bacteria from drinking water with the widely used yeast extract agar (YEA) pour plate method. The Quanti-Disc test module contains 50 reaction wells in which a medium has been pre-deposited. The medium contains a suite of three fluorogenic enzyme substrates selected for the detection of enzymes expressed widely by heterotrophic bacteria. The MPN of heterotrophic bacteria is calculated from the number of fluorescing reaction wells after incubation of a sample. Quanti-Disc and the YEA pour plate method were compared according to guidance on comparing methods given in United Kingdom national guidance and ISO 17994:2004. The two methods were also challenged with reference strains and isolates of heterotrophic bacteria from drinking water. This indicated that heterotrophic bacteria commonly encountered in drinking water are detected by both the YEA pour plate method and Quanti-Disc. Analysis of data from split water samples (723 for 37 degrees C tests and 872 for 22 degrees C tests) from nine geographically diverse laboratories in England and Wales demonstrated that the Quanti-Disc method is equivalent to the YEA pour plate method for the analysis of heterotrophic bacteria from drinking and similar waters at 37 degrees C, and superior to YEA for the analysis at 22 degrees C. The Quanti-Disc method is a simple and efficient alternative method for the enumeration of heterotrophic bacteria from drinking water.     

Microbially available organic carbon, phosphorus, and microbial growth in ozonated drinking water

Ozonation is a disinfection technique commonly used in the treatment of drinking water. It destroys harmful microbes, but it also degrades organic matter in water, increasing the bioavailability of organic matter. Recently, it was found that not only organic carbon but also phosphorus can limit the microbial growth in drinking water, which contains high amount of organic matter. We used a bioassay to analyze whether ozone could also increase the microbially available phosphorus (MAP) in drinking water, and whether MAP in ozone-treated water was associated with the growth of heterotrophic microbes. We found that both assimilable organic carbon and MAP concentrations were increased by ozone treatment. In ozonated water, microbial growth was mainly limited by phosphorus, and even minor changes in MAP concentration dramatically increased the growth potential of heterotrophic microbes. In this study, ozonation increased the MAP by 0.08-0.73 microgram P/l, resulting in an increase of 80,000-730,000 CFU/ml in water samples. In contrast to MAP, the content of assimilable organic carbon (AOCpotential) did not correlate with microbial growth. The results show that in water treatment not only AOCpotential but also MAP should be considered as an important factor that can limit microbial growth in drinking water.     

Microcosm experiments of oil degradation by microbial mats. II. The changes in microbial species

The influence of microbial mats on the degradation of two crude oils (Casablanca and Maya) and the effect of oil pollution on the mat structure were assessed using model ecosystems, prepared under laboratory conditions subject to tidal movements, from pristine Ebro Delta microbial-mat ecosystems. Both selected oils are examples of those currently used for commercial purposes. Casablanca crude oil is aliphatic with a low viscosity; Maya represents a sulphur-rich heavy crude oil that is predominantly aromatic. In the unpolluted microcosms, Microcoleus chthonoplastes-, Phormidium- and Oscillatoria-like were the dominant filamentous cyanobacterial morphotypes, whilst Synechoccocus-, Synechocystis- and Gloeocapsa-like were the most abundant unicellular cyanobacteria. After oil contamination, no significant changes of chlorophyll a and protein concentrations were observed, though cyanobacterial diversity shifts were monitored. Among filamentous cyanobacteria, M. chthonoplastes-like morphotype was the most resistant for both oils, unlike the other cyanobacteria, which tolerated Casablanca but not Maya. Unicellular cyanobacteria seemed to be resistant to pollution with both essayed oils, with the exception of the morphotype resembling Gloeocapsa, which was sensitive to both oils. The crude-oil addition also had a significant effect on certain components of the heterotrophic microbial community. Casablanca oil induced an increase in anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria, whereas the opposite effect was observed in those heterotrophs when polluted with Maya oil. The overall results, microbiological and crude-oil transformation analysis, indicate that the indigenous community has a considerable potential to degrade oil components by means of the metabolic cooperation of phototrophic and heterotrophic populations.     

Occurrence of nitrifying bacteria and nitrification in Finnish drinking water distribution systems

Microbiological nitrification process may lead to chemical, microbiological and technical problems in drinking water distribution systems. Nitrification activity is regulated by several physical, and chemical, and operational factors. However, the factors affecting nitrification in the distribution systems in boreal region, having its specific environmental characteristics, are poorly known. We studied the occurrence and activity of nitrifying bacteria in 15 drinking water networks distributing water with very different origin and treatment practices. The waters included chloraminated surface water, chlorinated surface water, and non-disinfected groundwater. The networks were located in eight towns in different parts of Finland. Our results showed that nitrifying bacteria are common in boreal drinking water distribution systems despite their low temperature. Surprisingly high numbers and activities of nitrifiers were detected in pipeline sediment samples. The numbers of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and their oxidation potentials were highest in chloraminated drinking water delivering networks, whereas the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria were present in the greatest numbers in those networks that used non-disinfected groundwater. The occurrence of nitrifying bacteria in drinking water samples correlated positively with the numbers of heterotrophic bacteria and turbidity, and negatively with the content of total chlorine. Although nitrifying bacteria grew well in drinking water distribution systems, the problems with nitrite accumulation are rare in Finland.     

Disinfectant efficacy of chlorite and chlorine dioxide in drinking water biofilms

The drinking water industry is closely examining options to maintain disinfection in distribution systems. In particular this research compared the relative efficiency of the chlorite ion (ClO2-) to chlorine dioxide (ClO2) for biofilm control. Chlorite levels were selected for monitoring since they are typically observed in the distribution system as a by-product whenever chlorine dioxide is applied for primary or secondary disinfection. Previous research has reported the chlorite ion to be effective in mitigating nitrification in distribution systems. Annular reactors (ARs) containing polycarbonate and cast iron coupons were used to simulate water quality conditions in a distribution system. Following a 4 week acclimation period, individual ARs operated in parallel were dosed with high (0.25mg/l) and low (0.1mg/l) chlorite concentrations and with high (0.5 mg/l) and low (0.25mg/l) chlorine dioxide concentrations, as measured in the effluent of the AR. Another set of ARs that contained cast iron and polycarbonate coupons served as controls and did not receive any disinfection. The data presented herein show that the presence of chlorite at low concentration levels was not effective at reducing heterotrophic bacteria. Log reductions of attached heterotrophic bacteria for low and high chlorite ranged between 0.20 and 0.34. Chlorine dioxide had greater log reductions for attached heterotrophic bacteria ranging from 0.52 to 1.36 at the higher dose. The greatest log reduction in suspended heterotrophic bacteria was for high dose of ClO2 on either cast iron or polycarbonate coupons (1.77 and 1.55). These data indicate that it would be necessary to maintain a chlorine dioxide residual concentration in distribution systems for control of microbiological regrowth.     

北方某高校管网水质生物稳定性的研究

目前关于饮用水安全性的研究大都集中在出厂水水质上，对给水管网中水质的变化则重视不够，而给水管网在整个供水体系中占有重要的地位，对保障水质安全起关键作用。为此，结合北方某高校校园管网的水质监测数据，分析了管网水中异养细菌的生长情况及其影响因素。结果表明，沿水流方向管网水质变得越来越差，至管网末梢时自由余氯、浊度、细菌总数等都劣于国家饮用水卫生标准；影响该管网水质生物稳定性的主要因素为AOC、自由余氯、浊度、有机物等。     

Features of Water Origin on the Planet Earth. New Aproaches to the Assessment of Water Quality

issues of origin of water on the planet Earth and hypotheses of hydrosphere genesis have been dealt with. The article underscores interrelationship between the quality of drinking water and the level of evolution of human intellect. Substantiated is the principled insufficiency of assessing the drinking water using only chemical and microbiological methods of control. The research showed the necessity of introducing new standards for drinking water taking into consideration its safety at the cytogenetic level. The article has analyzed problems of obtaining high quality drinking water and methods of its decontamination. For the first time we demonstrated that chlorinated tap water is the medium habitat of hazardous for humans of nonculturable, but viable pathogenic forms of microflora.     

氯胺消毒给水管网中的硝化作用及其控制

介绍了氯胺消毒管网中的硝化作用及其控制方法。研究表明,在采用氯胺消毒的给水管网中,存在着硝化反应发生的可能性。硝化作用会造成出水亚硝酸盐含量升高、消毒剂含量降低、异养菌繁殖等危害,水中的氨氮是引起该问题的主要原因。国外对氯胺消毒管网中硝化作用的研究主要集中在硝化作用与水质的相互影响方面,但对硝化作用成因的研究还不系统,部分研究的结论还属于推断性结论。目前我国部分城市给水管网中已经出现硝化现象,但还没有对氯胺消毒产生的硝化作用进行系统研究,指出在我国开展给水管网中硝化作用的研究是非常必要的。     

Removal of soft deposits from the distribution system improves the drinking water quality

Deterioration in drinking water quality in distribution networks represents a problem in drinking water distribution. These can be an increase in microbial numbers, an elevated concentration of iron or increased turbidity, all of which affect taste, odor and color in the drinking water. We studied if pipe cleaning would improve the drinking water quality in pipelines. Cleaning was arranged by flushing the pipes with compressed air and water. The numbers of bacteria and the concentrations of iron and turbidity in drinking water were highest at 9 p.m., when the water consumption was highest. Soft deposits inside the pipeline were occasionally released to bulk water, increasing the concentrations of iron, bacteria, microbially available organic carbon and phosphorus in drinking water. The cleaning of the pipeline decreased the diurnal variation in drinking water quality. With respect to iron, only short-term positive effects were obtained. However, removing of the nutrient-rich soft deposits did decrease the microbial growth in the distribution system during summer when there were favorable warm temperatures for microbial growth. No Norwalk-like viruses or coliform bacteria were detected in the soft deposits, in contrast to the high numbers of heterotrophic bacteria.     

Flow cytometry and adenosine tri-phosphate analysis: alternative possibilities to evaluate major bacteriological changes in drinking water treatment and distribution systems

An ever-growing need exists for rapid, quantitative and meaningful methods to quantify and characterize the effect of different treatment steps on the microbiological processes and events that occur during drinking water treatment and distribution. Here we compared cultivation-independent flow cytometry (FCM) and adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) analysis with conventional cultivation-based microbiological methods, on water samples from two full-scale treatment and distribution systems. The two systems consist of nearly identical treatment trains, but their raw water quality and pre-treatment differed significantly. All of the drinking water treatment processes affected the microbiological content of the water considerably, but once treated, the finished water remained remarkably stable throughout the distribution system. Both the FCM and ATP data were able to describe the microbiology of the systems accurately, providing meaningful process data when combined with other parameters such as dissolved organic carbon analysis. Importantly, the results highlighted a complimentary value of the two independent methods: while similar trends were mostly observed, variations in ATP-per-cell values between water samples were adequately explained by differences in the FCM fingerprints of the samples. This work demonstrates the value of alternative microbial methods for process/system control, optimization and routine monitoring of the general microbial quality of water during treatment and distribution.     

Contribution of drinking water to the weekly intake of heterotrophic bacteria from diet in the United States

The goal of this study was to assess the relative contribution of heterotrophic bacteria from various sources in the normal diet of an average person in the United States, due to concerns regarding the potential health implications of such bacteria in household tapwater. A literature search was conducted to determine the concentration of heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria in drinking water, as well as foods common to the American diet. Food items were also obtained in Tucson, AZ to further evaluate the consumption of HPC and total coliform bacteria. This was compared to a recent study on HPC bacteria in tapwater with and without POU devices mounted on the tap in Tucson, AZ households. It was determined that only 0.048-4.5% of the average consumer's total heterotrophic bacteria intake is derived from drinking water. Thus, HPC bacteria in drinking water do not represent a significant exposure of total HPC bacteria in the average diet of consumers in the United States.     

Cause and identification of taste and odour compounds in water

Odour compounds in water may originate from industrial and municipal sewage effluents or from biological activities of algae and heterotrophic micro-organisms. The relative importance of these two sources of odour substances is discussed for the situation in The Netherlands. A number of organic compounds that have been proved to be responsible for odour problems in effluent water, river water and drinking water are presented. Different types of chlorinated compounds are shown to be of importance in relation to offensive water odour. Some recommendations tentative for maximum allowable concentrations of odour compounds in effluents, surface waters and drinking water are given.     

Relationship between coliform culturability and organic matter in low nutritive waters

The objective of this work was to investigate the behaviour of coliform bacteria in specific low nutritive waters conveying organic fractions from different origin of which an unknown part is likely to pass through the treatment barrier. For this purpose, we studied the growth (microscopic counting) and the culturability (count on nutritive medium) of ten coliform bacteria species as a function of the amount of organic matter in a river water collected after a period of heavy rain and in an algal bloom water. Assays were carried out in the presence of autochthonous heterotrophic bacteria from the Nancy (France) drinking water, with variable concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) representative of drinking waters (0.5-1.5 mg l(-1) for diluted river water samples and 1.3-2.5 mg l(-1) for diluted algal bloom water samples). Bacterial growth was measured in the two types of water, regardless of the initial concentration of DOC. We found that coliform bacteria lost their culturability in both sample series, and that the lower the initial DOC concentration the more rapidly the culturability was lost. The quantity of DOC consumed by the bacteria in the two water types (0.03-0.13 mg l(-1) in river water and 0.77-1.29 mg l(-1) in algal bloom water) and the resulting consequences on bacterial behaviour suggested that bloom water contains algal organic compounds that are antagonistic to the growth and/or the culturability of coliform bacteria. Organic matter thresholds, beyond which coliform bacteria are unlikely to keep their culturability, have not been determined experimentally. Indeed, at the end of the assays some culturable coliform bacteria were systematically detected in both types of water. Enterobacter cloacae was the predominant species. Thus, during these adverse events the probability of coliform occurrence can be considered as high in treated water.     

利用固相反硝化工艺去除饮用水原水中的硝酸盐

饮用水原水中的硝酸盐污染已成为世界范围内普遍而日益突出的问题,固相反硝化是有效去除原水中硝酸盐的一种新工艺,该工艺利用不溶于水的固体有机物（生物质、可生物降解聚合物等）同时作为反硝化微生物的碳源和附着生长的载体,其主要优点是避免了常规异养反硝化工艺中存在的甲醇、乙醇等液体碳源易投加过量而影响出水水质的风险。讨论了不同固体碳源对反硝化作用的影响,介绍了固相反硝化工艺的研究现状,并展望了该工艺的发展趋势。     

Regional disparities of microbiological drinking water quality: assessment of spatial pattern and potential sociodemographic determinants

Even in industrialized countries like Germany, drinking water quality is a sensitive issue. Despite a generally high level of drinking water safety, contamination events do occur. We address the question whether demographic change may cause a spatial mismatch between installed capacities at the supply side and actual demand by water users, thereby increasing risks of microbiological contamination. Our investigation is based on a quantitative analysis using the largest publically available data-set on drinking water quality in Germany. We found that the number of reported contamination events in areas affected by population decrease was about twice as high as in areas with a stable or growing population. The relative frequency of microbiological contamination was found to be significantly correlated with rapidly depopulating areas. We conclude that in regions with negative population development, a statistically higher risk of microbiological drinking water contamination may coincide with a greater risk of recontamination during a longer passage in the distribution network.     

Control of Coliform Growth in Drinking Water Distribution Systems

The occurrence of coliforms in drinking water distribution systems may be explained by (i) inadequate water treatment, (ii) post-treatment contamination, or (iii) coliform growth in the network. In order to confirm the third hypothesis, a 24 h-starved dense suspension of Escherichia coli was injected into an experimental water distribution system. Results from this experiment clearly indicate that E. coli may find ecological conditions in drinking water distribution systems which will allow growth, particularly in the biofilm phase. Chlorination is an appropriate tool to limit coliform much more easily than the total heterotrophic bacterial biomass. However, in all cases, biofilm associated bacteria are more difficult to kill than suspended bacteria, because of chlorine consumption by the pipe material, and because of a diffusion-limited reaction between chlorine and the biofilm.     

A new concept of supplying the population with a quality drinking water

The paper has considered the causes for low quality of drinking water supplied to the consumers. We have proposed a new concept of supplying the population with drinking water. This concept provides for obtaining at the waterworks of safe water, in terms of toxicological and microbiological indicators, for use with domestic and household purposes. Such tap water is supplied to the distribution networks. Quality drinking water which is safe for human health is produced at the site of its consumption (at the plant of the well room type) and it comes to the distribution network to the consumer in other ways (self-flow or bottling). The article has considered approaches for solutions that are necessary for implementation of legislative, organizational, and technical issues.