Estimates of microbial quality and concentration of copper in distributed drinking water are highly dependent on sampling strategy.
The numbers of bacteria generally increase in distributed water. Often household pipelines or water fittings (e.g., taps) represent the most critical location for microbial growth in water distribution systems. According to the European Union drinking water directive, there should not be abnormal changes in the colony counts in water. We used a pilot distribution system to study the effects of water stagnation on drinking water microbial quality, concentration of copper and formation of biofilms with two commonly used pipeline materials in households; copper and plastic (polyethylene). Water stagnation for more than 4h significantly increased both the copper concentration and the number of bacteria in water. Heterotrophic plate counts were six times higher in PE pipes and ten times higher in copper pipes after 16 h of stagnation than after only 40 min stagnation. The increase in the heterotrophic plate counts was linear with time in both copper and plastic pipelines. In the distribution system, bacteria originated mainly from biofilms, because in laboratory tests with water, there was only minor growth of bacteria after 16 h stagnation. Our study indicates that water stagnation in the distribution system clearly affects microbial numbers and the concentration of copper in water, and should be considered when planning the sampling strategy for drinking water quality control in distribution systems.
Lehtola
Markku J
MJ
Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, National Public Health Institute, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: markku.lehtola@ktl.fi.
Miettinen
Ilkka T
IT
Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, National Public Health Institute, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701, Kuopio, Finland.
Hirvonen
Arja
A
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
Vartiainen
Terttu
T
Laboratory of Chemistry, National Public Health Institute, Department of Environmental Health, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
Martikainen
Pertti J
PJ
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
D018441:Biofilms; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005387:Finland; D020959:Polyethylene; D012107:Research Design; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014872:Water Movements; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
D014873:Water Pollutants; D003300:Copper; D020959:Polyethylene