| Popis: |
This chapter describes the biofilm formation and investigates the relationship between the amount of biofilm and the composition of the pipe material. Biofilm formation at the interface between a solid substratum and a liquid is a common phenomenon in natural, medical and industrial environments. The walls of the pipes in the water distribution systems provide ideal surfaces for the microbial colonization, and the biofilms formed cause a number of problems for the water companies. The attached cells represent the major fraction of biomass in a distribution system and contribute to the continuous contamination of the water phase because bacteria are sheared from the surfaces of the pipes. Several factors influence the biofilm development. Some of these factors are temperature, nutrients, disinfectant residuals, hydraulic regime, and the characteristics of the substratum. The microbial growth on materials gives rise to three categories of problems: those of public health significance, aesthetic problems and those causing detrimental effects on the water distribution network at a major cost to water companies. Bacterial growth in biofilms is a potential threat to health as it links to the increased bacterial counts in treated water and to gastrointestinal illnesses. |
