Biological stability of chlorinated and non-chlorinated drinking water
Internship Description
Workshop Description
Drinking water is
distributed from the treatment facility to consumers through extended man-made
piping systems. The drinking water system should be microbiologically safe and
biologically stable (WHO, 2006). The biological stability criterion refers to maintaining
the microbial drinking water quality in time and distance from the point of
drinking water production up to the point of consumption. This research will be
conducted at the unique drinking water distribution system (DWDS) at KAUST a
confined network of the same age supplied with reverse osmosis (RO) based
drinking water. The aim of the project is to characterize temporal and spatial
dynamics in biofilms and microbial community in the water from source to tap
with the considerations of the impact of residual disinfectant use The results
will allow better understanding whether residual chlorine is needed for
distribution of RO produced drinking water and will lead to better insights on
the biological stability of the produced water.
Deliverables/Expectations
Deliverables
- Operate miniature drinking water distribution networks
(preparation of solutions, setting up
and run equipment, problem solving)
- Sample analysis (biological and chemical analysis, DNA
extraction, etc.
- Data analysis
- Written and oral presentation of (intermediate)
results.
Faculty Name
Johannes Vrouwenvelder
Field of Study
Field Of Study
Chemistry,
environmental science