Author(s)

A. Abdallah, I. Shahrour, M. Sadek, M. Abdallah

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of online sensors in detecting biological contamination events in drinking water networks. An online sensor “S::CAN” integral with a 61 m laboratory scale distribution system (LDS), constructed at the University of Lille, were used to study the change in multiple parameters of tap water induced by injection of Escherichia coli cells under different concentrations from 10⁵ UFC/ml to 10⁸ UFC/ml. The magnitude of response for TOC, conductivity, free chlorine concentration and absorbance was proportional to injected cell concentration for a concentration exceeding 10⁶ UFC/ml. The present study show that the S::CAN sensor detected E.coli cells and could be utilized as part of a contaminant warning Supervisory Control and Data System (SCADA), for real time monitoring intrusion events in water distribution systems.

Keywords

E.coli, contaminant, S::CAN, on-line monitoring