Climate change is altering the operational conditions of drinking water distributions, which will affect reproduction and distribution of inhabiting invertebrates. The aim of the project is the evaluation of existing and new monitoring methods as well as the development of an operational applicable valuation basis for invertebrate management.
Invertebrates are a natural component of drinking water distribution system. Recently this topic is more often publicly discussed focussing on possible implications of climate change, due to rising water temperatures.
The DVGW worksheet 271 and the DVGW-Water Information 91 already contain basic information for invertebrate management within the treatment process and following distribution of drinking water. However, in application questions about invertebrate assessment and the sustainability of applied measures aroused, which will be addressed within the project.
The goal of the project is to assess the distribution and occurrence of invertebrates in German drinking water distributions in order to develop a consolidated valuation basis for invertebrates.
Furthermore, currently established management methods, as pipe flushing, will be reassessed by lab and field tests. New innovative molecular techniques and optical inspections methods will be analysed in respect to their applicability.
Finally, monitoring of distributions systems and lab experiments with specific microorganisms like coliform bacteria will be performed, in order to improve the process understanding of the effect of invertebrates on the biological quality of drinking water.
Publication:
C. Leister, J.E. Reiner, V. Grießmeier, J. Gescher, M. Hügler. 2023. Gastropods as a source for fecal indicator bacteria in drinking water.
Water Res. 244:120494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.120494
