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The impact of a change in disinfectants on the water quality of a distribution system

Chloramine is a widely used alternative disinfectant for chlorine in potable distribution water. This alternative was investigated and employed to show its effect for suppressing coliforms, trihalomethanes(THMs), disinfection by-products (DBPs), and corrosivity.Coliform analyses were performed with m-Endo(total coliform) and m-T7 agar(injured coliform) by using a standard Membrane Filtration method. Heterotrophic bacteria were monitored with HPC agar(PCA) and R2A agar (nutrient limited agar). EPA methods 502.2, 524.2, and 504 were used to determine levels of Trihalomethanes(THMs) and Disinfection by-products(DBPs).In our study, we observed no significant differences in coliform counts, that could be attributed to the switch in disinfectant. The most common coliform identified was Enterobacter cloacae. We also noted that m-T7 performed better than m-Endo in the detection of coliforms. We also observed a low level of corrosion (0.4-3.8 mils/year) in the distribution system (DS). Higher counts of heterotrophic bacteria were enumerated on R2A when compared to HPC. DBP values decreased two fold when compared with DBP values for the two previous years during which chlorine was used as the disinfectant. / Department of Biology

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/185044
Date January 1994
CreatorsBaek, Nak-hyun
ContributorsBall State University. Dept. of Biology., Warnes, Carl E.
Source SetsBall State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Formatviii, 42 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.
SourceVirtual Press
Coveragen-us-in

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