Using and selecting microbial surrogates
to validate ultraviolet (UV)
reactor performance can be a challenging
prospect. Water suppliers
must recognize both the importance of the
relative UV dose-response of the surrogate
and target organism and the limitations
inherent in using surrogates.
This study set out to improve the industry's
understanding of how MS2 coliphage
can be used as a bioassay surrogate for the
waterborne pathogen Cryptosporidium
parvum. Side-by-side MS2 and
Cryptosporidium bioassays were performed
to directly link MS2 and Cryptosporidium
inactivation. Although MS2 proved to be a
reasonable test organism to validate UV
reactor performance, it provided a very
conservative estimate of the inactivation
that can be achieved with organisms that
are very sensitive to UV, such as
Cryptosporidium. A more-sensitive test
organism would allow much higher levels of
inactivation to be validated. Water utilities
should carefully consider how conservative
their test pathogens must be to meet health
protection goals in the most cost-effective
manner. Includes 9 references, tables, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. 94 - No. 2 |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 390 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 8 |
| Published : | 02/01/2002 |
