Effectiveness of Devices to Monitor Biofouling and Metals Deposition on Plumbing Materials Exposed to a Full-Scale Drinking Water Distribution System

PLoS One. 2017 Jan 6;12(1):e0169140. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169140. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

A Modified Robbins Device (MRD) was installed in a full-scale water distribution system to investigate biofouling and metal depositions on concrete, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and stainless steel surfaces. Bulk water monitoring and a KIWA monitor (with glass media) were used to offline monitor biofilm development on pipe wall surfaces. Results indicated that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and metal concentrations on coupons increased with time. However, bacterial diversities decreased. There was a positive correlation between increase of ATP and metal deposition on pipe surfaces of stainless steel and HDPE and no correlation was observed on concrete and glass surfaces. The shared bacterial diversity between bulk water and MRD was less than 20% and the diversity shared between the MRD and KIWA monitor was only 10%. The bacterial diversity on biofilm of plumbing material of MRD however, did not show a significant difference suggesting a lack of influence from plumbing material during early stage of biofilm development.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Biofilms
  • Biofouling*
  • Construction Materials*
  • Drinking Water / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Metals* / chemistry
  • Water Microbiology
  • Water Quality*
  • Water Supply / standards

Substances

  • Drinking Water
  • Metals

Grants and funding

The authors acknowledge the funding received from CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship and Water Corporation, Western Australia. Authors MPG and JW were affiliated to CSIRO and received support in the form of salaries from both CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship and Water Corporation. Author SG who was affiliated with Water Corporation received support in the form of salaries from Water Corporation. KCBK, who was affiliated to Curtin University did not receive support in the form of salaries from both CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship and Water Corporation. Since some authors were affiliated to the funding bodies, both funding bodies are considered to have made varying contributions to the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish and preparation of the manuscript. Specific contributions of funding bodies can be articulated by referring to the ‘author contributions’ section.