Control of Microorganisms in Drinking Water

Prepared by the Water Supply Engineering Technical Committee of the Infrastructure Council of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute of ASCE.

This report provides a comprehensive survey of the state of the art in drinking water treatment methods and technologies for controlling microorganisms. Academics, practicing engineers, and environmental scientists offer insight into the risks posed by microbes in drinking water and ,more importantly, their control through treatment and disinfection. The report supplies an overview of the subject for nonspecialists and becomes a valuable technical reference for experienced practitioners.

Topics include:

• risks posed by pathogens in drinking water;
• microbially-mediated corrosion and water quality deterioration;
• indicator concept and its application in water supply;
• removal of organisms by flocculation/sedimentation;
• air stripping and aeration;
• slow sand filtration;
• rapid sand filtration;
• granular activated carbon/biological activated carbon;
• control of microorganisms in drinking water by pressure-driven membrane processes;
• general kinetics of disinfection processes;
• chlorine and chloramines;
• chlorine dioxide in drinking water treatment;
• ultraviolet disinfection;
• ozone disinfection in drinking water; and
• emerging pathogens of concern in drinking water.