AWWA QTC97203

Practical experience has shown that there are a variety of water quality parameters that tend to support biofilm growth in drinking water systems. These include temperature, the concentration and type of organic carbon and disinfectant, and the presence or absence of corrosion control. Many of these interactions have been supported in laboratory studies; however, there are still conflicting and confusing aspects to this work. In many cases, findings appear to be system specific and indicate the complexity of the response of biofilm to an interrelated set of environmental conditions. This paper briefly discusses methods of biofilm measurement, the importance of types of carbon on biofilm growth and environmental effects on biofilm coliforms.