Water quality in distribution systems can deteriorate due to regrowth, contamination passing though the treatment works, or possible water intrusion within the distribution system. In order to prevent and control biofilm development, most water utilities chlorinate the treated water. It is also necessary to decrease the dissolved organic carbon as this increases chlorine stability during distribution while also reducing the formation of trihalomethanes (THM). This dual approach, based on pilot results, modelling and full-scale studies, is used by Syndicat des Eaux d'Ile de France (SEDIF) for the Paris suburbs. In order to define its management strategy, several studies were carried out by SEDIF concerning microbiological water quality, and these are summarised in the first part of this paper. Pilot and modelling studies have indicated to what degree biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) should be removed in plants to limit bacterial regrowth. However, other works have reported that bacteria such as Escherichia coli can survive and even grow regardless of the low nutrient level in the distribution system. Consequently, SEDIF has introduced biological treatment into its water plants to optimise BDOC removal, and provided rechlorination facilities to attain a free chlorine residual of 0.1 mg Cl2 l−1 throughout its supply system. Some slight regrowth can still be observed in the distribution system, through dissolved organic carbon consumption in the network and increases in viable bacterial counts. Nonetheless, quality control data indicate that a good bacteriological quality has been attained, with minimum quantities of disinfection by-products.
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August 2000
This article was originally published in
Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua
Article Contents
Research Article|
August 01 2000
Microbiological water quality management in the Paris suburbs distribution system
D. Gatel;
1VIVENDI, Générale des Eaux, 32 Place Ronde, 92982 Paris, France
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P. Servais;
P. Servais
2Ecologie des Systèmes Aquatiques, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Plaine, CP 221–1050, Brussels, Belgium
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J. C. Block;
J. C. Block
3LSE/LCPE, UMR Université, CNRS 7564, 15 Av. du Charmois, 54500 Vandoeuvre, France
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P. Bonne;
P. Bonne
1VIVENDI, Générale des Eaux, 32 Place Ronde, 92982 Paris, France
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J. Cavard
J. Cavard
4SEDIF, 131 rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France
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Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2000) 49 (5): 231–241.
Citation
D. Gatel, P. Servais, J. C. Block, P. Bonne, J. Cavard; Microbiological water quality management in the Paris suburbs distribution system. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 August 2000; 49 (5): 231–241. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2000.0020
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