A comparative study of the inactivation of viruses in water by chlorine

Abstract

INTRODUCTION INFORMATION presently available concerning the inactivation of viruses in water and wastewater by chlorine and its compounds are limited. Available literature has often been equivocal because standard conditions for testing have not been used. There also occurred undefined chemical conditions in the test systems, a lack of information concerning the types of titrable chlorine actually present in the chlorinated water and the absence of adequate quantitative techniques for detection of animal virus units. Precise knowledge concerning the destruction of viruses in wastewater assumes greater importance as man turns to an ever increasing degree to the re-use of his upstream neighbor's wastewater. Since sewage-contaminated water is a potential health hazard an awareness of the efficiency of applied disinfectants on human enteric pathogens has increased significance. This is particularly true with viruses which are considerably more resistant than the bacteria. Moreover, it is obvious that disinfectants need to be chosen to meet particular needs. To determine which disinfectant species is best suited to meet each specific needs situation, disinfectants must be tested under essentially identical conditions. Thus, this project is a continuing part of the cooperative comparative disinfection study coordinated by the Virology program at the National Environmental Research Center, Cincinnati.