AWWA QTC97005

Human life support systems planned for future long-term space flight missions will require the highest possible water quality to minimize the risk of infectious disease and system deterioration. Concern has been expressed because it has been demonstrated that some bacteria may grow more rapidly and can become less susceptible to antimicrobial agents under conditions of microgravity. Also, humans suffer immunosuppression with prolonged space flight. This paper reports the results of work conducted to explore the effect of spaceflight and microgravity on biofilm formation by waterborne bacteria and their control by the disinfectant used by NASA. A strain of the common waterborne bacterium Burkholderia cepacia, which had been isolated from a shuttle orbiter water system, was used to represent oligotrophic bacteria which are likely to be found in water treatment and distribution systems on spacecraft.