MODELING BOM UTILIZATION AND BIOFILM GROWTH IN DISTRIBUTION-SYSTEMS -REVIEW AND IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH NEEDS

Preventing water quality deterioration as a result of bacterial growth in distribution systems is of importance to the water industry. This paper assesses the available models describing the utilisation of biod egradable organic matter (BOM) and biofilm growth in distribution syst ems. First the background to water quality and biofilm modelling in di stribution systems is introduced. Three specific biofilm modelling app roaches are then presented in detail: the steady-state biofilm model, SANCHO, and BAM. The capabilities of the available models are analysed based on several factors critical to biofilm modelling in distributio n systems: assumed reactor type, chlorine decay kinetics, BOM removal kinetics, mass transfer and biofilm structure, biofilm detachment kine tics, pipe material and aqueous chemistry. Future research needs, from both a modelling and experimental perspective, and the extent to whic h the existing models can be applied in practice are discussed.