ESA SITE BY JEAN-YVES PARENT

Main Research Topics - Drinking Water Microbiology

In this topic, ESA has first worked on the utilisation of bacteria in drinking water treatment plants in order to improve water quality. Biological filtration uses to capacity of bacteria fixed onto the solid support of filters to remove undesirable substances. Heterotrophic bacteria can remove the biodegradable fraction of dissolved organic carbon which can be the source of regrowth in distribution system and autotrophic nitrifying bacteria can convert ammonia into nitrates.

The studies conducted aimed to understand the major factors controlling the efficiency of these treatment stages.

Since 1989, ESA also works on the problematic of the bacterial regrowth in distribution systems (DS). The general objectives of our works was to understand the factors controlling bacterial regrowth in DS.

On the basis of our field data gained in a lot of different DS in various countries, a model of bacterial regrowth in DS was built (SANCHO model developped in collaboration Vivendi Water and the Syndicat des Eaux d'Ile de France).

We have also developed devices and methods to investigate the biofilm within DS.

Drinking water distribution systems of various cities were investigated by our team to study biofilm and microbiological water quality for different drinking water suppliers. Presently ESA works on biofilm in the distribution systems of the Parisian suburbs.

Main publications:
Billen, G., Servais, P., Ventresque, C. & Bouillot, P., 1992. Functioning of biological filters used in drinking water treatment : the CHABROL model, Aqua, 41 : 231-241.

Gatel, D, Servais, P., Block, J.C., Bonne, P. & Cavard J. 2000. Microbiological water quality management in the Parisian suburbs distribution system. Aqua - Journal of Water Supply Research and Technology. 49: 231-241.

Kihn, A., Laurent P. & P. Servais. 2000. Measurement of fixed nitrifying biomass in biological filters used in drinking water production. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. 24: 161-167.

Kihn, A., Andersson, A., Laurent, P., Servais, P. & Prévost, M. 2002. Impact of filtration material on nitrification in biological filters used in drinking water production. Journal of Water Supply, Research .

Laurent P. & P. Servais. 1995. Fixed bacterial biomass estimated by potential exoproteolytic activity. Canadian Journal of Microbiology. 41/48 : 743-752.

Laurent, P., P. Servais, D. Gatel, G. Randon. P. Bonne & J. Cavard. 1999. Microbiolgical quality before and after nanofiltation. Journal American Water Works Association. 91(10) : 62-72 .

Laurent, P., M. Prévost, J. Cigana, P. Niquette & P. Servais. 1999. Biodegradable organic matter removal in biological filters : validation of the CHABROL model. Water Research. 33(6): 1387-1398.

Niquette, P., Servais, P. & Savoir, R. 2001. Bacterial dynamics in the drinking water distribution system of Brussels. Water Research. 35 : 96-103.

Servais, P., Billen, G. & Hascoët, M.C., 1987. Determination of the biodegradable fraction of dissolved organic matter in waters, Wat. Res., 21 : 445-450.

Servais, P., Anzil, A. & C. Ventresque, 1989. A simple method for the determination of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon in water. Appl. Environ. Microbiol , 55 : 2732- 2734.

Servais, P., Billen, G., Ventresque, C. & Bablon, G., 1991. Microbial activity in granular activated carbon filters at the Choisy-le-Roi treatment plant. Journal AWWA, 83(2) : 62-68.

Servais, P., Billen, G., Bouillot, P. & Benezet, M., 1992. A pilot study of GAC biological filtration in drinking water treatment, Aqua, 3 : 163-168.

Servais, P., Billen, G., Laurent, P., Levi, Y. & Randon, G., 1992. Studies of BDOC and bacterial dynamics in the drinking water distribution system of the Northern Parisian suburbs, Revue des Sciences de l'Eau, 5 : 69-89.

Servais, P., B. Cauchi & G. Billen, 1994. Experimental study and modelling bacterial activity in biological activated carbon filters. Water Supply, 14 : 223-231.

Servais, P., Billen, G. & Bouillot, P., 1994. Biological colonization of granular activated carbon filters in drinking water treatment. Journal of Environmental Engineering , 120(4) : 888-899.

Servais, P., P. Laurent & G. Randon, 1995. Comparison of the bacterial dynamics in various French distribution systems. Aqua, Journal of Water Supply Research and Technology, 44(1) : 10-17.

Servais P., P. Laurent, G. Billen & D. Gatel. 1995. Development of a model of BDOC and bacterial biomass fluctuations in distribution systems, Revue des Sciences de l'Eau : 8 : 427-464.