Nitrification in a Chloraminated Drinking
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NITRIFICATION IN A CHLORAMINATED DRINKING WATER SUPPLY by HELEN WATTS Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science at the University of New South Wales. Australian Water Technologies, EnSight Division, Sydney and Department of Land and Water Conservation, Catchment Management and Community Services Directorate, Sydney, New South Wales. 29 August 1996. "I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and believe, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement is made in the text." SUMMARY The investigation into nitrification within drinking water supply systems was initiated following difficulties encountered by Sydney Water with the maintenance of disinfection residuals within the chloraminated supplies. Preliminary water quality data and information from overseas studies indicated that the loss of disinfection residual may have been due to nitrification. A three year water quality monitoring program of the Ryde delivery system and its bulkwater supply was undertaken to determine the occurrence and extent of nitrification throughout the system and over time. Alum dosing at Prospect Reservoir (the source for the Ryde Delivery system) took place for a two year period during the monitoring program. The water quality monitoring was supported by a limited survey of the nitrifying bacteria within biofilm and sediment sampled from the Ryde and other delivery systems. The other delivery systems were selected on the level of treatment and disinfection process. Results of the water quality monitoring confirmed the occurrence of nitrification in the Ryde delivery system throughout the monitoring period April 1990 to April 1993. The introduction of alum treated water from Prospect Reservoir influenced the trend of the water quality variables monitored but did not eliminate nitrification. Autotrophic nitrifying bacteria were isolated from the Ryde delivery system as well as other systems that were supplied with chlorinated water. The findings of this investigation are also consistent with the presence of nitrifying bacteria in the wider aquatic and terrestrial environment. In particular, the ability to survive in low nutrient environments. 11 The methods that have traditionally been used to study autotrophic nitrifying bacteria are not sensitive or accurate and can not be applied to study the bacteria in situ. Recent advances in the study of nitrifying bacteria and the use of model biofilm systems will more accurately determine the impact and control of nitrification on water quality within a drinking water system. lll TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................ ii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................... V LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF PLATES .................................................................................................................................... vii GENERAL INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................ 3 1.1 NITRIFYING BACTERIA ........................................................................................................................... 3 1.1.1 General Introduction. ..................................................................................................................... 3 1.1. 2 Nitrification Activity in Drinking Water Systems . .......................................................................... 5 1.1. 3 Methods Used for the Control Nitrification Activity. ................................................................... I O 1.2 COLIFORM AFTERGROWTHS AND BIOFILMS IN DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS ........................................ 11 I. 2. I Coliforms and the Assessment of Water Quality .. .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... 12 1.2.2 Bacterial Aftergrowths ................................................................................................................. 13 1.2.3 Biofilms ....................................................................................................._ ................................... 15 1.2.4 Control of Bacterial Aftergrowth and Biofilms in Drinking Water Systems ............................... 17 1.3 CHLORAMINES IN DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS .................................................................................... 19 1.3. 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 19 1.3.2 Chloramine Chemistry ................................................................................................................. 20 1.3.3 Relationship ofNitrite with Monochloramine. ............................................................................. 21 1.3.4 Use ofChloramines by Water Authorities .................................................................................... 22 1.4 STUDY AIMS ......................................................................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER 2: DETERMINATION OF NITRIFICATION WITHIN THE RYDE DELIVERY SYSTEM ................................................................................................................................................... 24 2.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 24 2. 1. 1 Sydney Water's Experience with Aftergrowths and the Introduction ofCh/oramines . ................ 24 2.2 DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM AND STUDY SITES ........................................................................................ 27 2.2. 1 Supply of Water to Sydney............................................................................................................ 27 2.2.2 Description ofthe Ryde Distribution System ................................................................................ 29 2.3 METHODS ............................................................................................................................................. 31 2.3. 1 Sample Design .............................................................................................................................. 32 2.3.2 Sample Collection ........................................................................................................................ 35 2.3.3 Summary of Drinking Water Analysis Methods ........................................................................... 36 2.3.4 Analysis ofData ........................................................................................................................... 39 2.4 RESULTS ............................................................................................................................................... 41 2. 4. 1 Changes in the concentration ofprimary variables at each site over time. ................................. 41 2.4.2 Changes in Primary Variables with Distance from Prospect Reservoir...................................... 51 2.4.3 Strength ofrelationship between variables.................................................................................. 52 2.5 DISCUSSION .......................................................................................................................................... 61 2.5. 1 Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 61 2. 5. 2 Dynamics ofNitrification within the Study System . ..................................................................... 64 2. 5. 3 Nitrification and Water Quality Variables ................................................................................... 68 CHAPTER 3: ISOLATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF NITRIFYING BACTERIA .......... 71 3. 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 71 3 .2 METHODS ............................................................................................................................................. 72 3.2. 1 Sample Design and Collection..................................................................................................... 72 3.2.2 Culture Methods ........................................................................................................................... 73 3.2.3 Detection ofActivity ..................................................................................................................... 76 iv 3.2.4 General chemical analysis ........................................................................................................... 77 3.2.5 Estimation ofNumbers ................................................................................................................