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Factors Affecting biofilm accumulation in Model Distribution Systems
Author(s) -
Ollos Peter J.,
Huck Peter M.,
Slawson Robin M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.2003.tb10272.x
Subject(s) - biofilm , shear stress , shear (geology) , disinfectant , heterotroph , chlorine , biofouling , chemistry , organic matter , microbiology and biotechnology , materials science , composite material , bacteria , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , genetics , membrane
Annular reactors fed with synthetic or actual water were used to examine the effects of chlorine or monochloramine, easily biodegradable organic matter (BOM), flow velocity (shear stress), pipe material, and temperature on biofilm accumulation as measured by biofilm heterotrophic plate count (HPC) values. Under the conditions studied, the disinfectant residual was the most important factor for biofilm accumulation. In the absence of a BOM supplement, temperature appeared to have essentially no effect, whereas shear appeared to be important. In the presence of a BOM supplement (500 μg/L), temperature was important at lower shear stress, although shear conditions themselves had little effect. The condition leading to the highest levels of biofilm HPCs was a high level of easily degradable BOM combined with the absence of a disinfectant. Other individual factors (temperature, substratum, and shear stress) were less important in producing this result.