Soil intrusion during water main repairs can rendera distribution system vulnerable to contamination.Because fecal indicators are not always presentin soil and groundwater near water mains, they cannotbe used to monitor intrusion into the distributionsystem. This study provides data to support the useof aerobic endospores to monitor intrusion and evaluatedistribution system maintenance practices.Aerobic endospores are naturally found in soil,easy to measure, and more resistant to chlorine thanbacterial indicators. In the case of suspected low ornegative pressure in a part of the distribution system,aerobic-endospore measurement could be useful inassessing the possibility that the lack of pressure wasassociated with potential contamination. Aerobicendospores also meet the criteria for an ideal microbialindicator of intrusion, namely the ability toconfirm both the pathway by which potentiallycontaminated water entered the distribution systemand the extent of the intrusion. Includes 52 references, tables, figures.
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Edition: Vol. 101 - No. 7 Published: 07/01/2009 Number of Pages: 13File Size: 1 file , 960 KB