Bacterial Growth in Distribution Systems:  Effect of Assimilable Organic Carbon and Biodegradable Dissolved Organic Carbon

Escobar, Isabel C.; Randall, Andrew A.; Taylor, James S.

doi:10.1021/es0106669

Cited by 128 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(24 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Thus, an analysis of the PGP in water as presented here provides researchers and water utilities with an additional decision making tool for optimum design and operation of water treatment systems in order to minimize the risk of pathogen growth. For example, ozonation is used in (drinking) water treatment for the oxidation of micropollutants and for disinfection (7,36,37). It is commonly known that oxidation processes generate AOC and BDOC, thus increasing the overall bacterial growth potential of a water (12,13,36) (Table 1).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Typically, AOC represents small molecules readily available for growth, whereas BDOC can also include larger molecular compounds, which require predegradation before they can be taken up by microbial cells. Results from both of these assays are commonly used as indicators for bacterial growth potential and have previously been associated with regrowth and biofilm formation in drinking water distribution systems (7,20,32).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Evaluating the Growth Potential of Pathogenic Bacteria in Water

Vital

Stucki

Egli

et al. 2010

Appl Environ Microbiol

102

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The degree to which a water sample can potentially support the growth of human pathogens was evaluated. For this purpose, a pathogen growth potential (PGP) bioassay was developed based on the principles of conventional assimilable organic carbon (AOC) determination, but using pure cultures of selected pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli O157, Vibrio cholerae, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa) as the inoculum. We evaluated 19 water samples collected after different treatment steps from two drinking water production plants and a wastewater treatment plant and from ozone-treated river water. Each pathogen was batch grown to stationary phase in sterile water samples, and the concentration of cells produced was measured using flow cytometry. In addition, the fraction of AOC consumed by each pathogen was estimated. Pathogen growth did not correlate with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and correlated only weakly with the concentration of AOC. Furthermore, the three pathogens never grew to the same final concentration in any water sample, and the relative ratio of the cultures to each other was unique in each sample. These results suggest that the extent of pathogen growth is affected not only by the concentration but also by the composition of AOC. Through this bioassay, PGP can be included as a parameter in water treatment system design, control, and operation. Additionally, a multilevel concept that integrates the results from the bioassay into the bigger framework of pathogen growth in water is discussed. The proposed approach provides a first step for including pathogen growth into microbial risk assessment.Pathogenic bacteria can survive and also grow in lownutrient aquatic environments, such as surface waters or man-made water treatment systems (2,17,30). Studies on pathogen survival and/or die-off (including disinfection) in water are common, but little is known about the fundamental factors governing their growth in the environment (34,35). Understanding the growth of pathogenic bacteria in aquatic ecosystems is essential for a holistic approach to microbial risk assessment as well as for improving drinking water treatment design and operation.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the Growth Potential of Pathogenic Bacteria in Water

Vital

Stucki

Egli

et al. 2010

Appl Environ Microbiol

102

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The fraction of NOM that can be used by microorganisms for growth is called biodegradable organic matter (BOM). BOM can be measured by a variety of methods that are typically operationally defined, the most common are assimilable organic carbon (AOC) and biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) tests [7,8] . As for biologically mediated chlorine demand, the most appropriate term would be BDOC.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis on biological stability influencing factors of living district water distribution system

Zhang¹,

Fu²,

Gao³

2016

Proceedings of the 2016 5th International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environment Engineering (ICSEEE 2016)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bistability of living district water distribution system and impact factors under different hydraulic operation conditions. In order to study bacterial regrowth potential in water distribution system, biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) was taken as a tool. Total bacteria number showed a positive correlation with BDOC concentration in network water. However, Residual chlorine showed negative correlation with total bacteria number. Fe ion would lead to Turbidity rising in the water distribution system.

show abstract

“…17,20,24 However, only a fraction of the coincidental carbon is typically accessible to the strains. 15 The uncertainty of how much of the coincidental carbon is available for the pesticide degrader makes it more complex to explain these experimental results. By using carefully controlled conditions, and mechanistically appropriate mathematical models, it might be possible to isolate and parametrize these various interactions, explain the variability in observed effects, and even predict scenarios that have not yet been experimentally tested.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Model Framework to Describe Growth-Linked Biodegradation of Trace-Level Pollutants in the Presence of Coincidental Carbon Substrates and Microbes

Liu

Helbling

Kohler

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pollutants such as pesticides and their degradation products occur ubiquitously in natural aquatic environments at trace concentrations (μg L–1 and lower). Microbial biodegradation processes have long been known to contribute to the attenuation of pesticides in contaminated environments. However, challenges remain in developing engineered remediation strategies for pesticide-contaminated environments because the fundamental processes that regulate growth-linked biodegradation of pesticides in natural environments remain poorly understood. In this research, we developed a model framework to describe growth-linked biodegradation of pesticides at trace concentrations. We used experimental data reported in the literature or novel simulations to explore three fundamental kinetic processes in isolation. We then combine these kinetic processes into a unified model framework. The three kinetic processes described were: the growth-linked biodegradation of micropollutant at environmentally relevant concentrations; the effect of coincidental assimilable organic carbon substrates; and the effect of coincidental microbes that compete for assimilable organic carbon substrates. We used Monod kinetic models to describe substrate utilization and microbial growth rates for specific pesticide and degrader pairs. We then extended the model to include terms for utilization of assimilable organic carbon substrates by the specific degrader and coincidental microbes, growth on assimilable organic carbon substrates by the specific degrader and coincidental microbes, and endogenous metabolism. The proposed model framework enables interpretation and description of a range of experimental observations on micropollutant biodegradation. The model provides a useful tool to identify environmental conditions with respect to the occurrence of assimilable organic carbon and coincidental microbes that may result in enhanced or reduced micropollutant biodegradation.

show abstract

Bacterial Growth in Distribution Systems: Effect of Assimilable Organic Carbon and Biodegradable Dissolved Organic Carbon

Cited by 128 publications

References 18 publications

Evaluating the Growth Potential of Pathogenic Bacteria in Water

Evaluating the Growth Potential of Pathogenic Bacteria in Water

Analysis on biological stability influencing factors of living district water distribution system

A Model Framework to Describe Growth-Linked Biodegradation of Trace-Level Pollutants in the Presence of Coincidental Carbon Substrates and Microbes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About