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| Biofilms in water distribution systems ? a historical overview, causes and consequences. Part I. A short history of safe water |
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Dorota Kręgiel |
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Keywords: water distribution systems, water, biofilms, treatment Abstract Biofilms in water distribution system can be defined as the undesirable accumulation of biological material on the various installation surfaces, with serious consequences in terms of color, odor and taste, as well as the gradual deterioration of the material of pipes and fittings. Initial attempts to solve the biofilm problem included using of sedimentation tanks and cleaning of the distribution network. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, sand filtration and disinfection techniques were used, which greatly helped to reduce the load of organic substances. A better understanding of biofouling in water distribution systems resulted in the introduction of various regulations and guidelines, which in turn drove the direction of new water treatment methods, new pipe materials and connections, and finally the development of new analytical techniques. The purpose of this review is to discuss the causes and consequences of biofilm formation from a historical point of view, from the first recorded events to the early 20th century.
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