Field- and Pilot-Scale Approaches to Assess Finished Water Storage Tanks
Citation:
Gomez-Alvarez, V. Field- and Pilot-Scale Approaches to Assess Finished Water Storage Tanks. Journal AWWA. American Water Works Association, Denver, CO, 115(10):24-32, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/awwa.2196
Impact/Purpose:
Finished water storage facilities are tanks, reservoirs, or other facilities used to store water that will undergo no further treatment to reduce microbial pathogens except residual disinfections. Their purpose is to meet peak demand, provide emergency storage (including for fire protection) and maintain distribution system pressure. Public health data has implicated finished water storage tanks in waterborne disease outbreaks (e.g. Legionnaires and Salmonellosis) across the USA. Storage tanks are vulnerable to contamination from animals, air, influent water and storage structure materials (i.e., leached chemicals). In addition, excess water retention time may cause depletion of disinfectant which creates an environment favorable to microbial contamination and enhanced disinfection by-product (DPB) formation. Sediment accumulation and biofilm formation enhance the growth and accumulation of pathogens, cause nitrification, physical blockage of valves and pipes, and release of particles into DWDS. Very little information is available about the microbial occurrence in storage tanks. It is important to understand the biotic and abiotic characteristics of these systems which amplify the potential public health risk relative to the DWDS. The purpose of this research is to determine how and why these opportunistic waterborne pathogens can persist within storage tank systems and how to implement effective water management plans to mitigate exposure risks to pathogens.
Description:
Finished water storage facilities are tanks or reservoirs used to store water that will undergo no further treatment to reduce microbial pathogens. Storage tanks are vulnerable to contamination and excess water retention time may cause depletion of disinfectant residual which creates an environment favorable for microbial contamination. A comprehensive understanding of the microbial community will improve our understanding of the potential risk associated with the water storage microbiome.
