Real-Time Monitoring and Controlling of Water Quality in Water Distribution Networks Based on Flow Cytometry and Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Start Page
1155
End Page
1167
Citation
World Environmental and Water Resources Congress : Adaptive Planning and Design in an Age of Risk and Uncertainty (2022)
Contribution to Conference
World Environmental and Water Resources Congress : Adaptive Planning and Design in an Age of Risk and Uncertainty (2022)  
Publisher DOI
10.1061/9780784484258.108
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85133185766
Guaranteeing the high-quality of water in water distribution networks (WDSs) is a priority when it comes to ensuring public health. Since the majority of German water utilities (and also other EU countries) do not chlorinate, controlling of nutrients in WDSs such as assimilable organic carbon (AOC) and monitoring of microbiological activities is indispensable. Conventional methods to characterize microbiological activity and dissolved organic matter are time-consuming and labor-intensive. This study presents data on flow cytometry and fluorescence spectroscopy as leading-edge technologies for real-time analysis of drinking water quality in WDS. Flow cytometry is a sensitive method which can be applied in online modus for accurate detection of bacterial cell numbers. Furthermore, fluorescence spectroscopy is a rapid and quantitative technique for detailed characterization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) including fractions of natural organic matter (NOM). The integration of both techniques is promising for real-time water quality analysis and as a supporting tool for quality control. In the initial step of this research, an experimental laboratory setup of simultaneous analysis is developed. Thus, the goal is to achieve knowledge about possible relations between water quality parameters, more precisely bacterial regrowth potential and the character of dissolved organic constituents. In continuous measurements, the initial state of microbiological growth is to be determined based on flow cytometric data. Due to fluorescence spectroscopy data the microbiological regrowth potential will be predicted. This will be achieved by online detecting of certain organic fractions of the DOC which can be utilized as nutrients by present bacteria. The overall project goal is the establishing of an interface between monitoring parameters and water quality simulation models for the WDSs. First promising results show the successful utilization of adapted AOC as regrowth potential parameter, which can be used for water quality simulations in a WDS.