Distributing drinking water without disinfectant: highest achievement or height of folly?

Preservation of the microbial quality of drinking water during distribution is a major objective in water supply. A disinfectant residual reduces regr owth but is not sufficiently effective against recontamination. It may caus e taste and odour problems and result in the presence of compounds with tox ic properties. Furthermore, the maintenance of an effective residual throug hout the distribution system is hampered by the disinfectant decay caused b y pipe materials and compounds present in the water. Prevention of microbia l and chemical recontamination thus requires good engineering practices in the distribution system. Regrowth can be limited by distributing biostable drinking water and by applying biostable materials in contact with drinking water. Ensuring microbiological safety and controlling regrowth with these measures results in a better quality drinking water.