Drinking Water Quality in Distribution Systems of Surface and Ground Waterworks in Finland

Abstract

Abstract. Physico-chemical and microbiological water quality in the drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) of five waterworks in Finland with different raw water sources and treatment processes was explored. Water quality was monitored during four seasons with on-line equipment and bulk water samples were analysed in laboratory. Seasonal changes in the water quality were more evident in DWDSs of surface waterworks compared to the ground waterworks and artificially recharging ground waterworks (AGR). Between seasons, temperature changed significantly in every system but pH and EC changed only in one AGR system. Seasonal change was seen also in the absorbance values of all systems. The concentration of microbially available phosphorus (MAP, μg PO₄-P/l) was the highest in drinking water originating from the waterworks supplying groundwater. Total assimilable organic carbon (AOC, μg AOC-C/l) concentrations were significantly different between the DWDSs other than between the two AGR systems. This study reports differences in the water quality between surface and ground waterworks using a wide set of parameters commonly used for monitoring. The results confirm that every distribution system is unique, and the water quality is affected by environmental factors, raw water source, treatment methods and disinfection.

Active eukaryotes in drinking water distribution systems of ground and surface waterworks

“…Only in DWDS D did the number of eukaryotic species increases with growing distance from the waterworks. In DWDS C, the different alpha- and beta-diversities in the most distant location 3 compared to locations 1 and 2 may be due to the lower residual chlorine concentration or higher iron concentrations in the site [21]. In DWDS B, an increased abundance of active Tarenaya hassleriana was detected as the distance from the water treatment plant increased.…”

“…The water samples and biofilm samples were collected from five DWDSs (A–E) from four cities in Eastern and Southern Finland as previously described [21]. DWDSs A–B were located in the same city, and these two waterworks both employed artificial groundwater recharge as a water treatment process.…”

Behaviour of aqueous sulfamethizole solution and temperature effects in cold plasma oxidation treatment

“…According to Ikonen et al . 28 , in 2014 there were 154 large (>5000 users or >1000 m 3 drinking water/day) EU-regulated waterworks in Finland; 41% of them used groundwater in their drinking water production, 19% used artificially recharged groundwater, and the remaining 40% used surface water sources. Drinking water treatment is strongly dependent on water temperature.…”

Physicochemical and microbiological profile of the potable water of Eastern Himalayan State Sikkim: An Indication of Severe Fecal Contamination and Immediate Health Risk

“…Rural remote areas of Sikkim, India still depend on using natural water as a potable source without proper filtration and treatments. Three main drinking water chains are known to play a significant role in the safety of drinking water: the quality of raw water at the source, the purification process of water and the distribution system of water (Ikonen et al, 2017). These all three chain system affect the physicochemical characteristics as well as microbial composition (Geldreich, 1989).…”

“…These all three chain system affect the physicochemical characteristics as well as microbial composition (Geldreich, 1989). Several microbial communities survive in the water system and in a favorable environment, they start multiplying in the water and depreciate the water quality (Ikonen et al, 2017). Diarrhea has become the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and in 2015, it caused an estimated 1.3 million death of children under the age of 5 years (Troeger et al, 2017).…”