Microbial contaminants in water and the associated health risk

(From the work by Doctor Fabien Squinazi, ‘Biofilm and materials in water distribution systems. From controlling the systems to the quality of the water’. Paris public health laboratory, 2006)

* With the kind permission of Doctor Fabien Squinazi, to whom we are extremely grateful.

Introduction

Whereas the figure for the number of microbial cells contained in the majority of drinking water systems is around 10⁶ to 10⁸ per cm², the variety of species present and their activity vary considerably and are difficult to assess due to obvious technical constraints.