Characterizing the development of biofilm in PE pipes through 1.5 years in the non-chlorinated Danish drinking water distribution system

Danish University Colleges

Characterizing the development of biofilm in PE pipes through 1.5 years in the non- chlorinated Danish drinking water distribution system

Søborg, Ditte Andreasen; Skovhus, Torben Lund; Højris, Bo; Andreasen, Jørn-Ole;

Kristensen, Kurt Brinkman

Publication date:

2020

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Citation for pulished version (APA):

Søborg, D. A., Skovhus, T. L., Højris, B., Andreasen, J-O., & Kristensen, K. B. (2020). Characterizing the development of biofilm in PE pipes through 1.5 years in the non-chlorinated Danish drinking water distribution system. Abstract from 14th Annual Water Research Meeting of Danish Water Forum, København, Denmark.

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Download date: 24. Mar. 2022

14

Annual Meeting of DWF 2020, January 30

. 1 Characterizing the development of biofilm in PE pipes through 1.5 years in the non-

chlorinated Danish drinking water distribution system

D.A. Søborg & T.L. Skovhus, VIA University College*, B. Højris, GRUNDFOS Holding A/S**, J.O. Andreasen & K. Brinkmann, Aarhus Vand A/S***

During commissioning of newly installed pipes in the drinking water distribution system (DWDS), a biofilm develops on the inner pipe surface. The development of biofilm is a multistage process involving initial attachment of cells, microcolony development and biofilm maturation including building of the EPS matrix.

In the end, a mature biofilm is established shaped by the environmental conditions. Despite examination of the structure and composition of biofilms in DWDS in previous studies, there is still a knowledge gab on how biofilms are shaped and affect drinking water quality and thereby the consumers. In this study, biofilm development was followed in a full-scale DWDS through 1.5 years at two locations. Focus was on

identifying dominant bacteria at different stages of biofilm development. Further, to investigate how differently a biofilm develops in identical polyethylene (PE)-pipes exposed to different environmental conditions.

Young biofilms from the two different locations were both dominated by genera of Comamonadaceae and Caulobacteraceae. The community composition of the mature biofilm, however, differed between the two locations. As seen from the principal component analysis (PCA) plot in Figure 1, the samples I-T and 11-20, respectively clustered together, which showed that a mature biofilm was reached at BUS after 8 months and at TBR after 10 months. Further, the diversity of the mature biofilm was higher in BUS than TBR (Shannon Index of approx. 5 compared to approx. 3). Differences in the mature biofilms were related to upstream factors such as water quality, pipe material, the existing biofilm upstream the new pipe section, flow

velocity, etc. Results of water samples showed the importance of reaching a mature biofilm for the biological stability of the water. There was a clear decrease in heterotrophic plate counts (HPC), ATP and DAPI counts at the time when the microbiological diversity of biofilms reached a steady state at both locations.

* dans@via.dk & tols@via.dk: Chr. M. Østergaardsvej 4, DK-8700, Horsens, Denmark

** bhoejris@grundfos.com: Poul Due Jensens Vej 7, DK-8850, Bjerringbro, Denmark

*** JOA@aarhusvand.dk & KBK@aarhusvand.dk: Gunnar Clausens Vej 34, 8260 Viby, Denmark Figure 1. Principal-component analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing of biofilm from test rigs TBR (1-20) and BUS (A-T). Each dot represents the full diversity in a sample at a given time from one of the two locations.

Sample 1+2 (and A+B) are true replicates (and so on). After 1.5 years, samples from each location clustered separately along PC1, suggesting that the PC1 axis explains variations based on location (effect of upstream factors).

Samples distributed along the PC2 axis in relation to the time of sampling (maturation of the biofilm).