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URBAN WATER SYSTEM PATHOGEN ASSESSMENT: SIGNIFICANCE OF DISTRIBUTION BIOFILMS
Citation:
ASHBOLT, N. URBAN WATER SYSTEM PATHOGEN ASSESSMENT: SIGNIFICANCE OF DISTRIBUTION BIOFILMS. Presented at Center for Disease Control Meeting, Atlanta, GA, May 10, 2007.
Impact/Purpose:
To provide broad-based support for the Microbiological and Chemical Exposure Assessment Research Division and to facilitate outreach and communications with peers, stakeholders, clients, and the public.
Description:
Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA), while not new to science is now providing a fundamental role in framing water guidelines internationally as well as identifying research gaps to be filled. Professor Ashbolt has been instrumental in working QMRA concepts into WHO guidelines for drinking, recreational and reuse waters, as well as within the Swedish Urban Water program and a recently completed EU project (MicroRisk). The process steps in undertaking a QMRA will be discussed along with Bayesian statistical methods that are appropriate to handle small pathogen datasets from watersheds through water treatment. Finally, the role of biofilms in potentially enhancing pathogen risks (through pathogen accumulation and in some cases growth) will be discussed, for both drinking and recycled water applications.