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Microbes and Water Quality in Developed Countries
Citation:
RODGERS, M. AND L. BOCZEK. Microbes and Water Quality in Developed Countries. Chapter NA, J. O. Nriagu (ed.), Encyclopedia of Environmental Health, ISBN: 978-0-444-52273-3. Elsevier Science Inc., Burlington, MA, Volume 3:749-756, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
to share information
Description:
Safe drinking water has been a concern for mankind through out the world for centuries. In the developed world, governments consider access to safe and clean drinking water to be a basic human right. Government regulations generally address the quality of the source water, adequacy of treatment, regular monitoring and public notification of contamination. Pathogenic microorganisms in drinking water can include bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Some human pathogens occur naturally in source waters, while others are the result of fecal contamination. Some bacterial pathogens are capable of growing within biofilm communities attached to pipe walls in distribution systems. Pathogens can enter a drinking water distribution system via inadequately treated source waters. Most drinking water contamination events occur however because of either intrusion of untreated waters into water pipes during periods of low or negative pressure or cross connections with other non-potable water pipes. Treatment technologies used to remove or inactivate pathogenic microorganisms include coagulation, flocculation, filtration and disinfection.
