Effect of High Chloride Concentrations on Microbial Regrowth in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 2
Abstract
This study was designed to identify the effects of variable concentrations of chloride on microbial regrowth, disinfection efficacy, and metal release in drinking water distribution systems. Annular reactors (ARs) containing cast iron or polycarbonate coupons were operated in this study to simulate distribution systems. Experiments were conducted with test water containing chloride concentrations of 10, 75, and . Chlorine disinfection was applied to achieve 0.2 and free chlorine residuals. Results showed that the ARs operated with elevated chloride concentrations were not significantly different from the ARs operated with low chloride concentrations in terms of microbial regrowth. However, there was a significant increase in iron concentrations after chlorination in the high chloride ARs. Further, more iron release was observed in these ARs at compared to chlorine residual. Higher chlorine doses were required to achieve goal residuals for those ARs with higher chloride concentration in cast iron systems. However, in polycarbonate systems, similar doses of chlorine were required to achieve the target free chlorine residual in both low-chloride and high-chloride ARs.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the A.D. Foulis Chair in Engineering program at Acadia University.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 2 • February 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 5, 2015
Accepted: Jul 24, 2015
Published online: Sep 14, 2015
Published in print: Feb 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Feb 14, 2016
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