Not a new idea. Bacteriophages are common water quality indicators. They are widely used to demonstrate unit process performance and finished water microbial quality especially in recycled water because they are good surrogates for pathogenic viruses and much easier and quicker to measure. They are more survivable than coliforms and E coli, which are, however, quite successful indicators. Viruses are generally not significantly more resistant to disinfection by primary disinfectants (chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone) than bacterial indicators. There are techniques available now that will identify all of the microbial population in a water sample in about a day, but indicators are still excellent water management methodologies.
Published by Joseph Cotruvo, President at Joseph Cotruvo & Associates, Water , Environment and Public Health
Not a new idea. Bacteriophages are common water quality indicators. They are widely used to demonstrate unit process performance and finished water microbial quality especially in recycled water because they are good surrogates for pathogenic viruses and much easier and quicker to measure. They are more survivable than coliforms and E coli, which are, however, quite successful indicators. Viruses are generally not significantly more resistant to disinfection by primary disinfectants (chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone) than bacterial indicators. There are techniques available now that will identify all of the microbial population in a water sample in about a day, but indicators are still excellent water management methodologies.