The effect of iron corrosion in cast iron pipes on the microbiological quality of drinking water: a laboratory and field investigation
Iron pipelines are commonly used in old drinking water distribution systems, adding rust to pipe-borne water. Chlorine added to water for disinfection could react with iron that leaches from these iron pipelines, thereby reducing available free chlorine for disinfection. The consumption of dissolved...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
2017-06-01
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| Series: | Ceylon Journal of Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cjs.sljol.info/articles/7434 |
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| author | Thilini S. Munasinghe Charmalie L. Abayasekara Asoka Jayawardana Rohana Chandrajith |
| author_facet | Thilini S. Munasinghe Charmalie L. Abayasekara Asoka Jayawardana Rohana Chandrajith |
| author_sort | Thilini S. Munasinghe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Iron pipelines are commonly used in old drinking water distribution systems, adding rust to pipe-borne water. Chlorine added to water for disinfection could react with iron that leaches from these iron pipelines, thereby reducing available free chlorine for disinfection. The consumption of dissolved chlorine by iron and consequent effects on the microbiological quality of drinking water were investigated, by spiking <em>Serratia marcescens </em>and<em> Escherichia coli</em> into different known mixtures of Fe<sup>2+</sup> and chlorine. Twenty seven water samples were collected from three water supply systems at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and investigated for its iron content, residual chlorine and microbial quality. The selected water distribution system is 60 years old and is corroded to a large extent, adding rust to the pipe-bone water. The results indicated that the rate of chlorine consumption in water was directly proportional to the content of Fe<sup>2+ </sup>ion in water. The Fe<sup>2+</sup> concentration in drinking water in iron pipelines ranged from <0.01 to 0.64 mg/L, while the desired residual chlorine levels were not obtained. Both total and fecal coliforms were detected in some samples indicating that the disinfection was not effective due to chlorine consumption in the distribution system. It was also observed that a high level of ferrous ions in water was inhibitory to microorganisms by forming iron-bacteria clumps in water. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T14:25:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-797ae71862704638a669d9fc1cac56df |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2513-2814 2513-230X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T14:25:19Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ceylon Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-797ae71862704638a669d9fc1cac56df2022-12-22T02:43:20ZengFaculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri LankaCeylon Journal of Science2513-28142513-230X2017-06-014629910410.4038/cjs.v46i2.74345644The effect of iron corrosion in cast iron pipes on the microbiological quality of drinking water: a laboratory and field investigationThilini S. Munasinghe0Charmalie L. Abayasekara1Asoka Jayawardana2Rohana Chandrajith3University of Peradeniya, PeradeniyaUniversity of Peradeniya, PeradeniyaNational Water Supply and Drainage Board, Sarasavi Uyana, PeradeniyaUniversity of Peradeniya, PeradeniyaIron pipelines are commonly used in old drinking water distribution systems, adding rust to pipe-borne water. Chlorine added to water for disinfection could react with iron that leaches from these iron pipelines, thereby reducing available free chlorine for disinfection. The consumption of dissolved chlorine by iron and consequent effects on the microbiological quality of drinking water were investigated, by spiking <em>Serratia marcescens </em>and<em> Escherichia coli</em> into different known mixtures of Fe<sup>2+</sup> and chlorine. Twenty seven water samples were collected from three water supply systems at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and investigated for its iron content, residual chlorine and microbial quality. The selected water distribution system is 60 years old and is corroded to a large extent, adding rust to the pipe-bone water. The results indicated that the rate of chlorine consumption in water was directly proportional to the content of Fe<sup>2+ </sup>ion in water. The Fe<sup>2+</sup> concentration in drinking water in iron pipelines ranged from <0.01 to 0.64 mg/L, while the desired residual chlorine levels were not obtained. Both total and fecal coliforms were detected in some samples indicating that the disinfection was not effective due to chlorine consumption in the distribution system. It was also observed that a high level of ferrous ions in water was inhibitory to microorganisms by forming iron-bacteria clumps in water.https://cjs.sljol.info/articles/7434cast iron, corrosion, disinfection, drinking water, free chlorine, microbiological quality |
| spellingShingle | Thilini S. Munasinghe Charmalie L. Abayasekara Asoka Jayawardana Rohana Chandrajith The effect of iron corrosion in cast iron pipes on the microbiological quality of drinking water: a laboratory and field investigation Ceylon Journal of Science cast iron, corrosion, disinfection, drinking water, free chlorine, microbiological quality |
| title | The effect of iron corrosion in cast iron pipes on the microbiological quality of drinking water: a laboratory and field investigation |
| title_full | The effect of iron corrosion in cast iron pipes on the microbiological quality of drinking water: a laboratory and field investigation |
| title_fullStr | The effect of iron corrosion in cast iron pipes on the microbiological quality of drinking water: a laboratory and field investigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of iron corrosion in cast iron pipes on the microbiological quality of drinking water: a laboratory and field investigation |
| title_short | The effect of iron corrosion in cast iron pipes on the microbiological quality of drinking water: a laboratory and field investigation |
| title_sort | effect of iron corrosion in cast iron pipes on the microbiological quality of drinking water a laboratory and field investigation |
| topic | cast iron, corrosion, disinfection, drinking water, free chlorine, microbiological quality |
| url | https://cjs.sljol.info/articles/7434 |
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