Abstract
This laboratory study examined the impact of free chlorine residual and pipe material on the formation of biofilm in drinking water distribution pipe surfaces. Result of heterotrophic plate counts(HPC) of the biofilm in the tap water-supplied reactor averaged $2.17{\times}10^5CFU/cm^2$ on PVC and $2.43{\times}10^5CFU/cm^2$ on STS 316, respectively. HPCs on the surface exposed to the tap water containing 0.2mg/L of free chlorinne residual averaged $4.24{\times}10^4CFU/cm^2$ on PVC and $6.54{\times}10^4CFU/cm^2$ on STS 316, respectively. Average of HPC/Total direct counts in the tap water-supplied reactor ranged from 1.08%(PVC) to 1.26%(STS 316) and from 0.38%(PVC) to 0.65%(STS 316) in the reactor supplemented with disinfectant, respectively. No correlation was observed between disinfectant addition and biofilm density. With regard to the biofilm formation, little difference existed between PVC and STS 316. Yellow and red pigmented bacteria were the dominant expressions in bulk fluid, whereas non-pigmented bacteria were found dominant in the biofilm. Pink/red pigmented bacteria were found to be facultative anaerobic, while yellow pigmented bacteria and non-pigmented bacteria were found to be obligate aerobic.
