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Disinfectant Penetration into Nitrifying Drinking Water Distribution System Biofilm Using Microelectrodes
Citation:
PRESSMAN, J. G., W. H. Lee, D. WAHMAN, AND P. L. Bishop. Disinfectant Penetration into Nitrifying Drinking Water Distribution System Biofilm Using Microelectrodes. Presented at 1st International Conference on Nitrification, Louisville, KY, July 05 - 10, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Nitrification within drinking water distribution systems reduces water quality, causes difficulties maintaining adequate disinfectant residual, and poses public health concerns including exposure to nitrite, nitrate, and opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms. Monochloramine is believed to penetrate biofilm better than free chlorine, and LeChevallier (1988) suggested that monochloramine and free chlorine act differently at surfaces of biofilm composed from various bacteria. In order to elucidate the effects of monochloramine penetration within nitrifying biofilm, total chlorine microelectrodes were developed and used to measure biofilm monochloramine penetration profiles. The addition of dissolved oxygen (DO) microelectrode profiles (and ultimately ammonia and pH profiles) allows the effects of disinfectants to be studied within nitrifying drinking water distribution system biofilm.
