Biological Stability of Drinking Water in an Eastern China City

Abstract

In this study, the indicators assimilable organic carbon (AOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) and microbially available phosphorus (MAP) were measured to evaluate the biological stability of drinking water in Jinan, an east China city, which uses different water sources in its distribution system. The results were shown that the concentration of AOC below 50μg ac-C•L-1 covered the detection of 58% sampling points in the city distribution systems. The difference of source water exercised a great influence to the concentration of AOC. The lower heterotrophic colony counts were detected when the AOC values were higher, and vice versa. The value of AOC/DOC showed its irregularity. MAP was negatively correlated with the AOC. Higher values of AOC and HPC were detected in pumping water than that in pipe water, while values of MAP were equivalent to each othe