Drinking Water Pipeline and Premise Plumbing Decontamination of Bacillus Globigii
Citation:
Goodrich, J., H. Buse, AND Jeff Szabo. Drinking Water Pipeline and Premise Plumbing Decontamination of Bacillus Globigii. Biofilm Technologies: Pathways to Product Development, Crystal City, Virginia, February 04 - 05, 2020.
Impact/Purpose:
This presentation describes the advantages/disadvantages of various methods and technologies to decontaminate drinking water distribution system pipelines and premise plumbing of microbiological contaminants.
Description:
This presentation discusses the efficacy of flushing, disinfection, pipe wall scouring, and relining of drinking water pipes and household appliances contaminated with Bacillus globigii, an anthrax surrogate utilizing the full-scale USEPA Water Security Test Bed (WSTB) located near Idaho Falls, ID. The traditional water utility practice of flushing and disinfecting does not appear to be adequate for the removal of the Bacillus globigii from the main pipeline wall to insure the safe return to service. Decontamination of the appliances require multiple flushing and disinfection steps and varies by appliance as well. Sampling for Legionella, mycobacteria, and free-living amoeba occurrence at the WSTB was initiated with variable results by location and species as well. Future Legionella experiments are planned.