Detection of Biofilm Layer in Water Plumbing and Determination of its Effect on Water Quality

Year 2023, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 20 - 45, 24.05.2023

Nurullah Said Yeken , Çağlan Günal

https://doi.org/10.31807/tjwsm.1175836

Abstract

In this study, biofilm formation on the plumbing, the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in biofilms and their effects on water quality were examined by membrane filtration with dehydrated
medium method in 22 different buildings in a facility’s water network. A relation with biofilm formation and water quality deterioration with the age of the plumbing and the pipe material was also
studied. The results were expressed as colony forming units (CFU). According to the results of the galvanized metal pipes, the average colony count was determined as >200 CFU/250 mL, average
pathogen count was calculated as 107 CFU/250 mL and the highest deterioration in the water qualitywere observed. For the Polyethylene (PE) pipes, the average colony count was found as >200
CFU/250 mL and the average pathogen count was found as 145 CFU/250 mL. No physical and chemical changes in water quality were observed. For the Polypropylene Random Copolymer (PPRC)
pipes, neither physical/chemical change in water quality nor pathogenic growth were observed. The total colony count was found as 34 CFU/250 mL. Biofilm formation was detected at 15 points in the network. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common detected pathogens in plumbing as 12 points from 22 buildings. The highest colony formation was Escherichia coli, which was detected in four of 22 plumbing as 600 CFU/250 mL colonies. It has been observed that more accumulations occurred in galvanized metal pipe surfaces, and microbiological growth was higher than PE and PPRC pipes.

Keywords

plumbing, water quality, biofilm, pathogen microorganisms

Thanks

The authors thank to Prof Dr Hatim Elhatip, Prof Dr Kadir Halkman and Dr Feriha Yıldırım and Dr Melike Huri YAVUZ for technical contributions. We also thank, Gözde Tuğba KÖKSOY, Mustafa ŞİMŞİR and Mehmet GÜZEL for sampling and providing NPS sets.

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