Effects of disinfection efficiency on microbial communities and corrosion processes in drinking water distribution systems simulated with actual running conditions

Abstract The effects of disinfection efficiency on microbial communities and the corrosion of cast iron pipes in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) were studied. Two annular reactors (ARs) that simulated actual running conditions with UV/Cl2 disinfection and chlorination alone were used. High chlorine consumption and corrosion rate were found in the AR with UV/Cl2. According to functional genes and pyrosequencing tests, a high percentage of iron recycling bacteria was detected within the biofilm of the AR with Cl2 at early running stage, whereas siderophore-producing bacteria were dominant in the biofilm of the AR with UV/Cl2. At the early running stage, the sequential use of UV light and an initial high chlorine dosage suppressed the biomass and iron-recycling bacteria in both bulk water and biofilms, thereby forming less protective scales against further corrosion, which enhanced chlorine consumption. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed that the bacterial communities in the ARs shaped from within rather than being imported by influents. These results indicate that the initial high disinfection efficiency within the distribution system had not contributed to the accumulation of iron-recycling bacteria at the early running stages. This study offer certain implications for controlling corrosion and water quality in DWDSs.