Mechanism of Biofilm Formation on Installation Materials and Its Impact on the Quality of Tap Water
In the conducted study, an attempt was made to verify and evaluate the impact of the biofilm formed on the surfaces of the installation material on the quality and sanitary safety of tap water reaching the consumer. For biofilm studies, fractal analysis and quantitative bacteriological analysis were...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/15/2401 |
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| author | Dorota Papciak Andżelika Domoń Monika Zdeb Barbara Tchórzewska-Cieślak Janusz Konkol Eleonora Sočo |
| author_facet | Dorota Papciak Andżelika Domoń Monika Zdeb Barbara Tchórzewska-Cieślak Janusz Konkol Eleonora Sočo |
| author_sort | Dorota Papciak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the conducted study, an attempt was made to verify and evaluate the impact of the biofilm formed on the surfaces of the installation material on the quality and sanitary safety of tap water reaching the consumer. For biofilm studies, fractal analysis and quantitative bacteriological analysis were used. The quality of tap water flowing through the experimental installation (semi-technical scale) was determined using physicochemical and microbiological parameters. The quantitative analysis of the biofilm showed that an increase in the number of microorganisms was observed in the initial phase of biofilm formation (reached 1.4 × 10<sup>4</sup> CFU/mL/cm<sup>2</sup> on day 14). During this period, there was a chaotic build-up of bacterial cells, as evidenced by an increase in the roughness of the profile lines. Unstable elevations of the biofilm formed in this way could be easily detached from the structure of the material, which resulted in deterioration of the bacteriological quality of the water leaving the installation. The obtained results indicate that the biofilm completely and permanently covered the surface of the tested material after 25 days of testing (the surface roughness described by the fractal dimension decreased). Moreover, the favorable temperature (22.6 °C) and the recorded decrease in the content of inorganic nitrogen (by 15%), phosphorus (by 14%), and dissolved oxygen (by 15%) confirm the activity of microorganisms. The favorable environmental conditions in the installation (the presence of nutrients, low chlorine concentration, and high temperature) contributed to the secondary development of microorganisms, including pathogenic organisms in the tested waters. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:04:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe74ae5474c240f7b79c74d2eb6774e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:04:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe74ae5474c240f7b79c74d2eb6774e42023-12-01T23:15:50ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-08-011415240110.3390/w14152401Mechanism of Biofilm Formation on Installation Materials and Its Impact on the Quality of Tap WaterDorota Papciak0Andżelika Domoń1Monika Zdeb2Barbara Tchórzewska-Cieślak3Janusz Konkol4Eleonora Sočo5Department of Water Purification and Protection, Faculty of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Water Purification and Protection, Faculty of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Water Purification and Protection, Faculty of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Water Supply and Sewerage Systems, Faculty of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Materials Engineering and Technology of Building, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszow, PolandIn the conducted study, an attempt was made to verify and evaluate the impact of the biofilm formed on the surfaces of the installation material on the quality and sanitary safety of tap water reaching the consumer. For biofilm studies, fractal analysis and quantitative bacteriological analysis were used. The quality of tap water flowing through the experimental installation (semi-technical scale) was determined using physicochemical and microbiological parameters. The quantitative analysis of the biofilm showed that an increase in the number of microorganisms was observed in the initial phase of biofilm formation (reached 1.4 × 10<sup>4</sup> CFU/mL/cm<sup>2</sup> on day 14). During this period, there was a chaotic build-up of bacterial cells, as evidenced by an increase in the roughness of the profile lines. Unstable elevations of the biofilm formed in this way could be easily detached from the structure of the material, which resulted in deterioration of the bacteriological quality of the water leaving the installation. The obtained results indicate that the biofilm completely and permanently covered the surface of the tested material after 25 days of testing (the surface roughness described by the fractal dimension decreased). Moreover, the favorable temperature (22.6 °C) and the recorded decrease in the content of inorganic nitrogen (by 15%), phosphorus (by 14%), and dissolved oxygen (by 15%) confirm the activity of microorganisms. The favorable environmental conditions in the installation (the presence of nutrients, low chlorine concentration, and high temperature) contributed to the secondary development of microorganisms, including pathogenic organisms in the tested waters.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/15/2401biofilmdrinking waterwater qualitywater supply systembiostabilitypipe material |
| spellingShingle | Dorota Papciak Andżelika Domoń Monika Zdeb Barbara Tchórzewska-Cieślak Janusz Konkol Eleonora Sočo Mechanism of Biofilm Formation on Installation Materials and Its Impact on the Quality of Tap Water Water biofilm drinking water water quality water supply system biostability pipe material |
| title | Mechanism of Biofilm Formation on Installation Materials and Its Impact on the Quality of Tap Water |
| title_full | Mechanism of Biofilm Formation on Installation Materials and Its Impact on the Quality of Tap Water |
| title_fullStr | Mechanism of Biofilm Formation on Installation Materials and Its Impact on the Quality of Tap Water |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanism of Biofilm Formation on Installation Materials and Its Impact on the Quality of Tap Water |
| title_short | Mechanism of Biofilm Formation on Installation Materials and Its Impact on the Quality of Tap Water |
| title_sort | mechanism of biofilm formation on installation materials and its impact on the quality of tap water |
| topic | biofilm drinking water water quality water supply system biostability pipe material |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/15/2401 |
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