Chlorine is the most widely used disinfectant for drinking water treatment. Chlorine canreact with natural organic matter (NOM) in water sources resulting in the formation of potentially carcinogenic disinfection by-products (DBPs). The most common DBPs measured in chlorinated drinking water distribution systems are trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). In 2005, the City of Kamloops, British Columbia upgraded the drinking water treatment system to ultrafiltration membrane treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which upgrades to a drinking water treatment system, specifically, implementation of an ultrafiltration treatment process, impacted DBP formation within a distribution system. This study used a two-phase research approach. Phase I of the study was a distribution system monitoring program that collected water samples and physical and chemical information using data loggers at five sampling sites within the distribution system. Phase II of the study used bench-scale simulations that modeled DBP formation using a flow-through reactor system, the material-specific simulated distribution system (MS-SDS), constructed of pipe material resurrected from the City of Kamloops distribution system. Phase I results suggested that implementation of the ultrafiltration treatment process and accompanying treatment system upgrade was not effective at reducing the concentration of DBPs delivered to consumers. Concentrations of THMs remained relatively constant at sampling sites, while concentrations of HAAs increased following implementation of the ultrafiltration treatment process. The increase in HAA formation was likely due to an increase in retention time of the water within the distribution system following implementation of the ultrafiltration treatment process, rather than due to the treatment process itself. The results of this study are consistent with previous work on South Thompson River water DBP precursors, which suggested that THM and HAA precursors of this source water are small and hydrophilic, and therefore cannot be removed by ultrafiltration processes. Phase II results showed that the MS-SDS was more representative of distribution system c onditions than traditional glass bottles to estimate DBP formation. It is recommended that the MS-SDS be used in parallel with a simultaneous distribution system monitoring program to estimate distribution system retention times from THM and HAA concentrations.

Chlorine is the most widely used disinfectant for drinking water treatment. Chlorine canreact with natural organic matter (NOM) in water sources resulting in the formation of potentially carcinogenic disinfection by-products (DBPs). The most common DBPs measured in chlorinated drinking water distribution systems are trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). In 2005, the City of Kamloops, British Columbia upgraded the drinking water treatment system to ultrafiltration membrane treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which upgrades to a drinking water treatment system, specifically, implementation of an ultrafiltration treatment process, impacted DBP formation within a distribution system. This study used a two-phase research approach. Phase I of the study was a distribution system monitoring program that collected water samples and physical and chemical information using data loggers at five sampling sites within the distribution system. Phase II of the study used bench-scale simulations that modeled DBP formation using a flow-through reactor system, the material-specific simulated distribution system (MS-SDS), constructed of pipe material resurrected from the City of Kamloops distribution system. Phase I results suggested that implementation of the ultrafiltration treatment process and accompanying treatment system upgrade was not effective at reducing the concentration of DBPs delivered to consumers. Concentrations of THMs remained relatively constant at sampling sites, while concentrations of HAAs increased following implementation of the ultrafiltration treatment process. The increase in HAA formation was likely due to an increase in retention time of the water within the distribution system following implementation of the ultrafiltration treatment process, rather than due to the treatment process itself. The results of this study are consistent with previous work on South Thompson River water DBP precursors, which suggested that THM and HAA precursors of this source water are small and hydrophilic, and therefore cannot be removed by ultrafiltration processes. Phase II results showed that the MS-SDS was more representative of distribution system c onditions than traditional glass bottles to estimate DBP formation. It is recommended that the MS-SDS be used in parallel with a simultaneous distribution system monitoring program to estimate distribution system retention times from THM and HAA concentrations. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

<p dir="ltr">Interactions between drinking water quality and delivery systems, pipe materials, and attitudes</p>

Water treatment facilities across the United States are known for providing high-quality drinking water to their residents. However, differences in treatment methods, aging infrastructure, and outdated household plumbing may affect the quality of drinking water by the time it reaches the consumer’s tap. Palm Beach County, Florida, is an area with large socioeconomic contrasts where some families live in dilapidated structures and others reside in luxurious, gated communities. This research highlights the variation of household water quality by determining metal concentrations in tap water samples in communities of different socioeconomic status. In addition, interviews were conducted with personnel from five different Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in the study area to understand the relationship between customers and their water utility. Results indicate that effective communication strategies are needed to boost public trust and fill critical information gaps about the water treatment process. Ninety-six tap water samples were collected from households throughout eastern Palm Beach County and analyzed for different metals using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. Surveys were also administered at the same households where tap water samples were collected. Residents were asked about their perceptions of tap water and social and economic questions regarding their household characteristics. A Socioeconomic Status (SES) index was created using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to understand how perceptions of tap water quality and concentrations of metals in household tap water vary based on SES. Results provide evidence that those living in the lowest-ranking SES neighborhoods are the least satisfied with their tap water quality and consume less tap water than those living in higher SES neighborhoods. Water quality results highlighted large variations in concentrations of aluminum (Al) and thus, analyses focused specifically on how Al concentrations varied according to SES. Results from Ordinary Least Squares regression show that as socioeconomic status decreases, the concentration of Al in tap water increases. Six samples exceed the State of Florida’s Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) for Al, and five of those samples were found in the lowest-ranking SES neighborhoods (SES 1 and 2). The results of this research provide evidence that inequities in household water quality exist across eastern Palm Beach County, Florida. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

INTRODUCTION: More than 1.8 million diarrheal disease deaths can be attributed to the lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene. These deaths occur mostly in developing countries where water quality testing resources are limited. Several tests are currently used to detect and quantify E. coli and other fecal coliforms in drinking water, however they can be expensive, complex, and technically demanding. There is a need for a simple, reliable, low-cost water quality test that can be used in resource limited settings. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to perform a rigorous evaluation of the recently developed compartment bag test for detection and quantification of E. coli against the standard method, membrane filtration. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 270 water samples were collected from forty-five various naturally contaminated water sources around metro-Atlanta from August 2011 through April 2012 and processed using the compartment bag test and membrane filtration with mI agar. Concentrations of E. coli were significantly correlated with a correlation coefficient of 0.904 (95% CI 0.859 – 0.950). Sensitivity and specificity were 94.9% and 96.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the compartment bag test produces results consistent with those produced by membrane filtration on mI agar. Based upon its performance, the compartment bag test has the potential to be used as a reliable, low-cost drinking water quality test globally where water quality testing resources are not readily available, and can be implemented in monitoring activities for microbial water quality.

Economical evaluation for the improvement strategy of drinking water quality by advanced water treatment in Greter Kaohsiung District

Source Water Protection (SWP) is recognized as the first barrier in the multi-barrier approach to reduce the risk of drinking water contamination. In Canada, provincial water agencies and municipalities lead most of the water management responsibility based on provincial regulations. However, SWP planning and implementation is variable across jurisdictions and influenced by different factors related to local capacity. Much of the water resources literature is focused on capacity-building limitations faced by small and rural water system operators. The purpose of this research is to investigate capacity-building limitations faced by metropolitan water system operators. Information from a questionnaire and document review in four selected Canadian metropolitan areas was gathered and analysed in this study. The results of this study show variability of SWP planning uptake as well as variability in approach toward SWP implementation. While large metropolitan areas may appear to possess ready access to financial capital, technical capability, and other forms of capacity to undertake SWP, the results of this research indicate the opposite. Metropolitan areas in Canada remain reliant on advanced water treatment and other engineering solutions to provide safe drinking water as opposed to SWP planning that invests in preventative measures through land use planning mechanisms. The results of this research contribute to the knowledge and understanding of SWP particularly as applied to metropolitan Canada.

Access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental human requirement. However, in many areas of the world natural water sources have been impacted by a variety of biological and chemical contaminants. The ingestion of these contaminants may cause acute or chronic health problems. To prevent such illnesses, many technologies have been developed to treat, disinfect and supply safe drinking water quality. However, despite these advancements, water supply distribution systems can adversely affect the drinking water quality before it is delivered to consumers. The primary aim of this research was to investigate the effect that water distribution systems may have on household drinking water quality in Christchurch, New Zealand and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Water samples were collected from the source water and household taps in both cities. The samples were then tested for various physical, chemical and biological water quality parameters. The data collected was also used to determine if water samples complied with national drinking water quality standards in both countries. Independent samples t-test statistical analyses were also performed to determine if water quality measured in the samples collected from the source and household taps was significantly different. Water quality did not vary considerably between the source and tap water samples collected in Christchurch City. No bacteria were detected in any sample. However, the pH and total iron concentrations measured in source and tap water samples were found to be significantly different. The lower pH values measured in tap water samples suggests that corrosion may be taking place in the distribution system. No water samples transgressed the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ) MAVs. Monitoring data collected by the Christchurch City Council (CCC) was also used for comparison. A number of pH, turbidity and total iron concentration measurements collected by the CCC in 2011 were found to exceed the guideline values. This is likely due to structural damage to the source wells and pump-stations that occurred during the 2011 earthquake events. Overall, it was concluded that the distribution system does not adversely affect the quality of Christchurch City’s household drinking water. The water quality measured in samples collected from the source (LTP) and household taps in Addis Ababa was found to vary considerably. The water collected from the source complied with the Ethiopian (WHO) drinking water quality standards. However, tap water samples were often found to have degraded water quality for the physical and chemical parameters tested. This was especially the case after supply interruption and reinstatement events. Bacteria were also often detected in household tap water samples. The results from this study indicate that water supply disruptions may result in degraded water quality. This may be due to a drop in pipeline pressure and the intrusion of contaminants through the leaky and cross-connected pipes in the distribution network. This adversely affects the drinking water quality in Addis Ababa.

The Bolivian Altiplano (BA) is a high plateau located in the western part of the country at an altitude of 3,600 to 3,900 meters above sea level and is bordered by the Eastern and Western Cordillera. Within the BA there is a large endorheic hydrologic system linking the Titicaca Lake in the north the Desaguadero River, lakes Uru-Uru and Poopó in the central part; and the Lacajahuira River and Coipasa and Uyuni salt pans in the south. Several mineralized areas, especially in the Eastern Cordillera, have been intensively exploited for centuries for the extraction of silver, gold, and tin from polymetallic sulfide ore deposits. Presently many urban centers are also contributing for an extensive contamination in localized areas; especially the Poopó Lake and some rivers are affected by high loads of wastewater and solid waste, in addition to the release of heavy metals and arsenic (As) due to acid mine drainage. The presence of As in the BA was known to be related to mining only, but recent studies revealed that As of geogenic origin also contributing to the elevated concentration of As in surface and groundwater. The Poopó Lake basin is characterized by a semiarid climate. Geologic formations predominantly are of volcanic origin and groundwater flow is sluggish in nature. These environmental settings have generated substantially elevated concen- trations of geogenic As and other trace elements in surface and groundwater. Both surface and groundwater used for drinking water have high concentrations of As that by far exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. The overall objective of the present study has been focused on the determination of the sources and principal mechanisms for mobilization of geogenic As into surface and groundwater of the Poopó Lake basin area. More specifically, this study has determined the spatial distribution and the extent of As contamination in surface and groundwater; chemical composition of surface and groundwater, rock and sediment; major geochemical mechanisms for As mobilization from solid phase to aqueous phases. This study also made an assessment of drinking water quality in rural areas within the Poopó Lake basin. Arsenic concentration exceeded the WHO guideline and national regulations for drinking water of 10 µg/L in 85% of the samples collected from the area around the Poopó Lake (n=27) and 90% of the samples from the southern part of the lake basin (n=42). Groundwater samples collected from drinking water wells had As concentrations up to 623 µg/L, while samples collected from piezometers had even higher up to 3,497 µg/L. Highest concentration in river water samples was observed 117 µg/L. Alkaline nature of water (median pH 8.3 for groundwater and 9.0 for surface water), predominance of Na-Cl-HCO3 water type and elevated Eh reflecting oxidized character has been revealed by As(V) as the major species in As speciation. Different rock types were analyzed for their As content and the highest concentration of 27 mg/kg was found in a coral limestone sample. In evaporate it was 13 mg and 11 mg As/kg was measured in calcareous sandstone. Elevated concentration of As was also observed in sediment cores collected from two drilling sites; 51 mg/kg in Condo K and 36 mg/kg in Quillacas. Physical and chemical weathering of volcanic rocks, limestone, carbonates and plagioclase minerals enhance the supply of Na+ and HCO3- into solution and as a consequence pH and alkalinity increase, which in turn, favor As desorption from solid mineral surfaces (especially Fe(III) oxyhydr- oxides) and therefore dissolved As in water is increased. / <p>QC 20150529</p>

The presence of heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria in drinking water distribution systems is usually not considered harmful to the general consumer. However, precautions must be taken regarding the immunocompromised. All water supply authorities in South Africa are lawfully required to provide consumers with high-quality drinking water that complies with South African-and international standards. This study mainly focused on the isolation, identification and characterization of HPC and other bacteria from biofilm-and bulk water samples from two sampling points located within the Potchefstroom drinking water distribution system. Based on five main objectives set out in this study, results indicated that the bulk water at the J.S. van der Merwe building was of ideal quality fit for lifetime consumption. Application of enrichment-and selective media allowed for the isolation of 12 different bacterial morphotypes. These were identified by way of biochemical-and molecular methods as Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Brevundimonas spp., Clostridiaceae, Corynebacterium renale, Flavobacteriaceae, Kytococcus sedentarius, Leuconostoc lactic, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus capitis. The greatest diversity of bacteria was detected early autumn 2008, while the lowest diversity occurred during mid-winter 2007. Bacillus cereus, Kytococcus sedentarius and Staphylococcus capitis displayed potential pathogenic properties on blood agar. Kytococcus sedentarius could be classified as potentially the most pathogenic among the isolates. All isolates displayed multiple-resistant patterns towards tested antibiotics. Corynebacterium renale and Staphylococcus aureus were least resistant bacterial species and Lysinibacillus sphaericus the most resistant. All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin (CIP) and streptomycin (S), but most were resistant to erythromycin (E). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allowed for detailed examination of Brevundimonas spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Staphylococcus spp. The capability of Brevundimonas spp. to produce slime and store nutrients within inclusion bodies, suggests the ability of this bacterium to form biofilm and persist in the drinking water for prolonged periods. Despite the inhibitory or toxic effect of copper against bacterial growth, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of biofilms as well as diatoms on red-copper coupons. Biofilm activity was also observed on reverse-osmosis (RO) filters. Since corrosion was evident on red-copper coupons, it is recommended that prospective studies also look into the significance of microbial induced corrosion (MIC) within the Potchefstroom drinking water distribution system. Other prospects include determining minimum inhibitory concentrations of isolates against antibiotics and the application of culture independent methods such as SSCP and DGGE to investigate biofilm development. The use of diatoms as an index of the drinking water quality is also suggested. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Environmental Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.