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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2000, p. 268-276, Vol. 66, No. 1
0099-2240/0/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

A Pilot Study of Bacteriological Population Changes through Potable Water Treatment and Distribution

Cheryl D. Norton1,* and Mark W. LeChevallier2

American Water Works Service Company, Inc., Belleville, Illinois 62220,1 and American Water Works Service Company, Inc., Voorhees, New Jersey 080432

Received 8 March 1999/Accepted 22 October 1999

This pilot study compares the compositions of bacterial biofilms in pipe networks supplied with water containing either high levels of biodegradable organic matter (BOM) or low levels of BOM (conventionally or biologically treated, respectively). The Microbial Identification System for fatty acid analysis was utilized in this study to identify a large number of organisms (>1,400) to determine population changes in both conventionally and biologically treated water and biofilms. Data generated during this study indicated that suspended bacteria have little impact on biofilms, and despite treatment (conventional or biological), suspended microbial populations were similar following disinfection. Prechlorination with free chlorine resulted not only in reduced plate count values but also in a dramatic shift in the composition of the bacterial population to predominately gram-positive bacteria. Chlorination of biologically treated water produced the same shifts toward gram-positive bacteria. Removal of assimilable organic carbon by the biologically active filters slowed the rate of biofilm accumulation, but biofilm levels were similar to those found in conventionally treated water within several weeks. Iron pipes stimulated the rate of biofilm development, and bacterial levels on disinfected iron pipes exceeded those for chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipes. The study showed that the iron pipe surface dramatically influenced the composition, activity, and disinfection resistance of biofilm bacteria.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: American Water Works Service Company, Inc., 1115 South Illinois St., Belleville, IL 62220. Phone: (618) 239-0505. Fax: (618) 235-6349. E-mail: cnorton{at}bellevillelab.com.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2000, p. 268-276, Vol. 66, No. 1
0099-2240/0/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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