The Inactivation and Microbial Regrowth Inhibition of Heterotrophic and Nitrifying Bacteria by Chloramination
This study was performed to evaluate the inactivation and microbial regrowth of heterotrophic and nitrifying bacteria using chloramine as a secondary disinfectant for drinking water distribution system. Three sets of the three reactors filled with the Cl2/NH3-N ratio of 3:1, 4:1 and 5:1 were used in these experiments. Chloramine concentration were applied to each set of the reactors with 1㎎/ℓ, 2㎎/ℓ and 3㎎/ℓ, respectively. For the set with 1㎎/ℓ was applied, all the reactors showed that the residual chloramine concentration gradually decreased with elapsed time and reached to zero level after 7 days. Heterotrophic bacteria remarkably increased and nitrification occurred after 11 days. For the sets with 2㎎/ℓ and 3㎎/ℓ, however, the residual chloramine was maintained through the experimenatal period (21 day). Furthermore the regrowth of heterotrophic bacteria and nitrification were not found. More than 2㎎/ℓ of chloramine with Cl2/NH3-N ratio of 3:1, the nitrification could be inhibited by 2 days of contact time.