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An Incidence of Massive Biofouling of Sand Filters: A Biochemical Detective Story
Author(s) -
G. WALTON N. R.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1993.tb00804.x
Subject(s) - hindsight bias , clogging , filtration (mathematics) , biofouling , environmental science , filter (signal processing) , biochemical engineering , history , computer science , biology , engineering , psychology , archaeology , mathematics , statistics , membrane , computer vision , cognitive psychology , genetics
A serious biofouling incident at an overseas water treatment plant is described, together with the background information and recorded operational data which provided the subtle, but unheeded, physicochemical clues to the developing biological problem. At the time, however, it was not realised just what was causing the serious filtration problems and even upon discovery of the filter‐clogging algae it was not immediately obvious what had caused their appearance, growth and subsequent rapid death within a sealed groundwater system. However, piecing together the story with hindsight from all the available clues has proved to be a fascinating and illuminating piece of biochemical detective work with unexpected conclusions which have wider ramifications within the water industry.