title: Microbiology, chemistry and biofilm development in a pilot drinking water distribution system with copper and plastic pipes.
abstract: We studied the changes in water quality and formation of biofilms occurring in a pilot-scale water distribution system with two generally used pipe materials: copper and plastic (polyethylene, PE). The formation of biofilms with time was analysed as the number of total bacteria, heterotrophic plate counts and the concentration of ATP in biofilms. At the end of the experiment (after 308 days), microbial community structure, viable biomass and gram-negative bacterial biomass were analysed via lipid biomarkers (phospholipid fatty acids and lipopolysaccharide 3-hydroxy fatty acids), and the numbers of virus-like particles and total bacteria were enumerated by SYBR Green I staining. The formation of biofilm was slower in copper pipes than in the PE pipes, but after 200 days there was no difference in microbial numbers between the pipe materials. Copper ion led to lower microbial numbers in water during the first 200 days, but thereafter there were no differences between the two pipe materials. The number of virus-like particles was lower in biofilms and in outlet water from the copper pipes than PE pipes. Pipe material influenced also the microbial and gram-negative bacterial community structure in biofilms and water.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, National Public Health Institute, P.O. Box 95, FIN-70701 Kuopio, Finland. markku.lehtola@ktl.fi
authors.forename: Markku J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lehtola
authors.forename: Ilkka T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Miettinen
authors.forename: Minna M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Keinänen
authors.forename: Tomi K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kekki
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.forename: Arja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirvonen
authors.forename: Terttu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vartiainen
authors.forename: Pertti J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Martikainen
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D003300:Copper; D004738:Engineering; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D010969:Plastics; D011786:Quality Control; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014867:Water; D003300:Copper