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Taste and odor complaints from consumers can sometimes be attributable
to biofouling. The disinfectant reacting with the slime coat imparts taste
and odor characteristics to the water. Taste and odor is one of the tools
that can be helpful in diagnosing many water system problems. The cost
to add treatment to a well can be steep. Drilling a new well is by far more
expensive than properly rehabilitating an existing well, and may require
additional treatment processes as well. A well casing will last far longer
when it receives proper attention in a timely manner. Running a well to
failure is sometimes an unrecoverable event. In this era of drought, not
extending the service life of groundwater sources is bad business.
Distribution system rehabilitation costs are also very high. All
distribution system rehabilitation techniques have their strengths and
limitations. Even if your system has always had a very aggressive
flushing program it may not be enough to control biofouling.
Rehabilitation techniques must meet the conditions within the pipes.
Operational and maintenance budgets are stressed with most utilities. The
fiscal responsibility of any water system is to get the most for the rate
payer’s money. This can be a challenge when budget cycles run anywhere
from one year to five years. When the lifecycle of your water system
spans multiple decades, trying to get tens of thousands or hundreds of
thousands of dollars added to a maintenance program is daunting.
A proactive and holistic approach to monitoring and controlling
biofouling is long overdue in the industry. Too often, programs are
geared only towards regulatory compliance. Currently, there are no
regulations that require direct monitoring of biofilm. The RTCR does
talk about biofouling. A utilities’ leadership looks for ways to save
energy. They look for ways to reduce treatment costs. They want to
ensure public health and safety is protected. They want to be compliant
with regulations and not be subject to fines and bad publicity. These
things are often evaluated individually.
Does your system have an energy efficiency program; Water
conservation program; or how about a maintenance management
program? Does your system have a Biofilm Management program?
One initial step in evaluating your system’s biofouling is to begin
monitoring for its presence and severity. When it comes to prioritizing
where limited money can be spent, looking for where to get the best
“bang for the buck” starts with assessment.
Biofouling might very well be the “smoking gun” that links many of
the drinking water industry challenges. As we see the links between
water quality and delivery problems tied to biofilm and biofouling, we
begin to see biofilm as a probable “root cause” to numerous problems.
Eliminate the cause, eliminate the problem.
I have laid out some pieces of the puzzle in such a way that you can begin
to see the linkages. Are there more linkages? For more information on
biofilm, biofouling, and how it can be assessed; or to discuss this article,
please contact me through my website.
BRBconsultingservice.com.Bruce Baker has 37 years of experience in the water industry. He has
operational expertise in groundwater and surface water treatment
including over 20 years of supervisory experience. His background
also includes operational expertise in Drainage and Sewer collection
system facilities and Primary wastewater treatment plants.