WWRC 89-40
Use of Nutrient Response Techniques To Assess the Effectiveness of
Chlorination of Rapid Sand Filter Gravel
Abstract
A direct viable counting method was used to rapidly assess the effectiveness of chlorination of biofilms on
rapid sand filter gravel. A total of 50% of the cells were nutrient responsive after exposure to 0.5 mg of chlorine
per liter, while this value was 25% after exposure to 25 mg of chlorine per liter. A large variation was seen in
the numbers of nutrient-responsive cells on different rocks. More cells attached to the sandblasted side of
marbles than to the smooth side, but there was no difference in eight of nine cases in the proportion of survival
to chlorination between the two different sides. The effectiveness of chlorination appeared to be influenced by
the species of bacterium in the biofilm.
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