Occurrence of nitrification in chloraminated distribution systems

Utilities in the United States that chloraminate were surveyed to evaluate the incidence of nitrification in distribution systems and determine whether nitrification can be predicted from basic system and water quality data. An estimated two thirds of medium and large US systems that chloraminate experience nitrification to some degree. About every fourth surveyed utility reported moderate to severe nitrification problems. In addition, every fourth utility did not know the extent of nitrification in its system. The incidence of nitrification was-more frequent during summer or when the temperature was greater than 15° C (59° F); nevertheless, several sites sampled under cold water conditions-i.e, below 10° C (50° F)-also evidenced nitrification. No one water quality parameter by itself may be a good indicator of nitrification, but several important factors should be evaluated collectively-nitrite, nitrate, chloramine dosage and residual, ammonia, pH, heterotrophic bacterial counts, and dissolved oxygen.

[1]  Sylvia E. Barrett,et al.  Biological nitrification in covered reservoirs containing chloraminated water , 1988 .

[2]  Douglas Feben,et al.  Nitrifying Bacteria in Water Supplies , 1935 .

[3]  J. Alleman,et al.  Light induced Nitrosomonas inhibition , 1987 .

[4]  G. Izaguirre,et al.  Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in a chloraminated distribution system: seasonal occurrence, distribution and disinfection resistance , 1990, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[5]  J. Skadsen.  Nitrification in a distribution system , 1993 .

[6]  Vernon L. Snoeyink,et al.  Achieving Biologically Stable Drinking Water , 1984 .

[7]  B. Olson,et al.  Effect of pH, application technique, and chlorine-to-nitrogen ratio on disinfectant activity of inorganic chloramines with pure culture bacteria , 1984, Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

[8]  Edward G. Means,et al.  Optimizing Chloramine Disinfection for the Control of Nitrification , 1993 .

[9]  J. Donald Johnson,et al.  Specificity of the DPD and Amperometric Titration Methods for Free Available Chlorine: A Review , 1989 .

[10]  A. Abeliovich.  Nitrification of ammonia in wastewater field observations and laboratory studies , 1985 .

[11]  D. Cunliffe,et al.  Bacterial nitrification in chloraminated water supplies , 1991, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[12]  B. Olson,et al.  Interference in the bactericidal properties of inorganic chloramines by organic nitrogen compounds. , 1985, Environmental science & technology.