Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10505974 | Journal of Environmental Management | 2005 | 9 Pages |
Abstract
Three laboratory-scale water pipe systems were set up to study the effects of adding three inorganic nutrients (ammonium, nitrate or phosphate) on biofilm formation in water pipes. The results showed that the effects of adding ammonium or nitrate on the biofilm formation were insignificant when levels below 0.1 mg N/l were added. Analogous results were observed when phosphate was added at levels below 0.005 mg P/l. However, as the addition of ammonium increased to 0.5 mg N/l, significant effects on biofilm formation were observed. Similar results were obtained phosphate was added at levels above 0.01 mg P/l. Batch tests were also conducted using water samples collected from a Taiwanese drinking water distribution system. The results indicated that the addition of ammonium, nitrate or phosphate to treatment plant effluent stimulates bacterial growth. In the distributed water of an urban area, the addition of nitrate or phosphate stimulated bacterial growth. The bacterial growth in the distributed water of a suburban area was not stimulated by adding any of these three inorganic nutrients.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Energy
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Authors
Chenghwa Chu, Chungsying Lu, Chimei Lee,