Relationship between Bacterial Regrowth and Free chlorine Residuals in Water Distribution System

This study is to observe the occurrence of heterotrophic bacteria in terms of free chlorine residuals in two different water distribution system which belongs to both K and Y water treatment plant of S city of Korea. The data analyzing in distribution systems (DS) shows that the free chlorine residuals decrease from 0.10 to 0.56 mgmg/L for K, and 0.51 to 0.78 mg/L for Y. The decay of free chlorine is clearly higher in both March and August than those of in January. The HPC in DS are ranged from 0 to 40 CFU/mL for K, 0 to 270 CFU/mL for Y, on R2A medium. In particular, its level is relatively high at consumers ground storage tanks, taps and point-of-end area of Y. The predominant genera is studied in distribution systems are Acinetobacter, Sphingomonas (branch of Pseudomonas), Micrococcus, Bacillus, Staphylococcus. The diversity of heterotrophic bacteria increase in the end-point area. Most of them are either encapsulated cells or cocci of gram-positve. In conclusion, the point-of-end area in distribution systems shows the longer flow distance from water treatment plants, the greater diversity and higher level of heterotrophic bacteria due to the significant decay of free chlorine residuals.