- An Assessment of Drinking Water Systems in Connecticut: Optimizing Natural and Engineered Systems for Protecting the Quality of Surface Drinking Waters

Author(s):  
Francesca Serio ◽  
Lucia Martella ◽  
Giovanni Imbriani ◽  
Adele Idolo ◽  
Francesco Bagordo ◽  
...  

Background: The quality of water for human consumption is an objective of fundamental importance for the defense of public health. Since the management of networks involves many problems of control and efficiency of distribution, the Water Safety Plan (WSP) was introduced to address these growing problems. Methods: WSP was applied to three companies in which the water resource assumes central importance: five water kiosks, a third-range vegetable processing company, and a residence and care institution. In drafting the plan, the terms and procedures designed and tested for the management of urban distribution systems were applied to safeguard the resource over time. Results: The case studies demonstrated the reliability of the application of the model even to small drinking-water systems, even though it involved a greater effort in analyzing the incoming water, the local intended use, and the possibilities for managing the containment of the dangers to which it is exposed. This approach demonstrates concrete effectiveness in identifying and mitigating the dangers of altering the quality of water. Conclusions: Thanks to the WSP applied to small drinking-water systems, we can move from management that is focused mainly on verifying the conformity of the finished product to the creation of a global risk assessment and management system that covers the entire water supply chain.


2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 415-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Benqlilou ◽  
L. Laraki ◽  
A. Outair

Rural areas in Morocco are characterized by specific particulars dispersal, remoteness and importance. Considering this particular context, it is necessary to adjust the analysis and treatment methods, the monitoring and sanitary inspection systems. Within this framework, a new methodology was developed with the purpose of supervising and monitoring drinking water quality in rural areas. This methodology consists basically in applying common norms for rural localities bordering existing adductions, and in the adoption of a simplified approach for non-accessible rural localities supplied by autonomous drinking water systems. The simplified approach relies essentially on sanitary inspection data and on the control of parameters that constitute a sanitary risk in the short term (bacteriological parameters). The control of residual chlorine content is so important, for it ensures a high bacteriological quality of water and can offer the opportunity for a quick reaction of the manager. These two approaches are based mainly on resource protection, water disinfection and population awareness about the good use and preservation of water quality. Indeed, in order to ensure the continuity of rural autonomous drinking water systems in terms of quantity and quality of distributed water, various management models were developed: management by means of water user associations, and by a private operator. For these different modes of management, the methodology to adopt for supervising and monitoring drinking water quality in rural areas together with the attribution of tasks and responsibilities was already established. The right of citizens to sustainable and safe water is a stimulating challenge which requires the collaboration and involvement of all acting agents in the sector.


2006 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 75-82
Author(s):  
S. Lee ◽  
D. Cha ◽  
H. Park

In developing countries, the PPP (Public–Private–Partnerships) programs have been unsatisfied during the last decade. This study analyzed one of the main causes is low quality of the system. That is, no matter what supports developing countries may get through PPP, reforming water systems can be hardly successful without appropriate system quality. With this background, this study introduces service standards of ISO/TC 224 as an option to improve system quality of developing countries. To analyze its effects, system dynamic modeling was conducted. The results indicated that service standards, working with the PPP programs, can benefit all the stakeholders involved in the water systems in developing countries. Also this indicates further that this approach with service standards deserves more detailed study for improving the ailing water systems in developing countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Fisher ◽  
Amy Z. Guo ◽  
J. Wren Tracy ◽  
Sridevi K. Prasad ◽  
Ryan D. Cronk ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zihan Dai ◽  
Maria C. Sevillano-Rivera ◽  
Szymon T. Calus ◽  
Q. Melina Bautista-de los Santos ◽  
A. Murat Eren ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTLimiting microbial growth during drinking water distribution is achieved either by maintaining a disinfectant residual or through nutrient limitation without the use of a disinfectant. The impact of these contrasting approaches on the drinking water microbiome is not systematically understood. We utilized genome-resolved metagenomics to compare the structure, metabolic traits, and population genomes of drinking water microbiomes across multiple full-scale drinking water systems utilizing these two-distinct microbial growth control strategies. Microbial communities cluster together at the structural- and functional potential-level based on the presence or absence of a disinfectant residual. Disinfectant residual concentrations alone explained 17 and 6.5% of the variance in structure and functional potential of the drinking water microbiome, respectively, despite including samples from multiple drinking water systems with variable source waters and source water communities, treatment strategies, and chemical compositions. The drinking water microbiome is structurally and functionally less diverse and less variable across disinfected systems as compared to non-disinfected systems. While bacteria were the most abundant domain, archaea and eukaryota were more abundant in non-disinfected and disinfected systems, respectively. Community-level differences in functional potential were driven by enrichment of genes associated with carbon and nitrogen fixation in non-disinfected systems and γ-aminobutyrate metabolism in disinfected systems which may be associated with the recycling of amino acids. Metagenome-assembled genome-level analyses for a subset of phylogenetically related microorganisms suggests that disinfection may select for microorganisms capable of using fatty acids, presumably from microbial decay products, via the glyoxylate cycle. Overall, we find that disinfection exhibits systematic and consistent selective pressures on the drinking water microbiome and may select for microorganisms able to utilize microbial decay products originating from disinfection inactivated microorganisms.


Author(s):  
Rajesh Melaram ◽  
Brandon Lopez-Dueñas

Clean, fresh, and safe drinking water is essential to human health and well-being. Occasionally, chemical pollutants taint surface water quality used for consumption. Microcystins (MCs) are toxic heptapeptides produced by freshwater cyanobacteria. These secondary metabolites can reach hazardous concentrations, impairing surface drinking water supplies. Inconsistent screening of MCs is not uncommon in Florida waters as no provisional guidance value is established to protect public health. The occurrence of MCs in Lake Manatee and Lake Washington was monitored over the potential peak algae bloom season (June-August). An indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) quantified total MCs in two drinking water systems. Varied concentrations occurred between June and July, whereas concentrations peaked in August. Overall, MC prevalence was higher in Lake Manatee than Lake Washington. Colorimetric assays measured phosphate and nitrite in environmental water samples. Phosphate and nitrite concentrations strongly correlated with total MCs (p < 0.01). The results indicate the intrinsic nature of environmental MCs in surface drinking water supplies and the need to examine hepatotoxin dynamics to preserve drinking water quality in community served areas.


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