More reliable measurement of drinking water quality
May 20th, 2005
With the aid of a new – already patented – assay, the concentration of assimilable organic carbon in water (AOC, i.e. the fraction available for bacterial growth) can now be determined more rapidly, reliably and inexpensively. In most cases, whether a water sample remains potable for consumers after a number of days in reservoirs and supply systems depends crucially on the AOC concentration: microbial contamination is promoted by higher AOC levels. Water may then no longer meet the microbiological quality requirements specified for foodstuffs, or the development of bacterial biofilms may give rise to problems in pipes, equipment and processes. However, AOC analysis has been neglected to date because the conventional method is labour‑intensive and time‑consuming – and of limited reliability for complex natural waters.
Media release [pdf; in German only]
Publication in ES&T [pdf]
Eawag microbiologist Frederik Hammes at the flow cytometer