Bacterial Contamination Associated With Electronic Faucets: A New Risk for Healthcare Facilities

2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Hargreaves ◽  
Larry Shireley ◽  
Shannon Hansen ◽  
Virginia Bren ◽  
Gordon Fillipi ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:To investigate the safety of the hospital water supply following a major flood.Design:Surveillance was conducted of the hospital water supply as it entered the hospital and at randomly selected water faucets throughout the facility.Setting:A newly constructed surgical critical-care unit in a 265-bed community hospital that had to be evacuated and was out of operation for 6 weeks following a major flood of the city.Methods:Random water samples throughout the facility were analyzed for heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs), chlorine, and coliforms utilizing standard methods.Results:Water samples entering the hospital met appropriate standards, indicating the city water distribution system was not contaminated. Of 169 faucets tested, 13 (22%) of 59 electronic faucets exceeded the HPC threshold, and 12 (11%) of 110 manual faucets exceeded the HPC threshold (P<.14). A comparison of two brands of electronic faucets with manual faucets and with each other revealed that the HPC threshold was exceeded by 11 (32%) of 34 brand A faucets as compared to 12 (11%) of 110 manual faucets (P<.006). The HPC threshold was exceeded by 2 (8%) of 25 brand B faucets compared to 12 (11%) of 110 manual faucets (P<.94). Contamination rates of brand A and brand B faucets differed significantly (P<.003). Similar testing 2 months after hyperchlorination of the water supply indicated that the HPC threshold was exceeded by 16 (52%) of 31 brand A faucets compared to 10 (9.%) of 110 manual faucets (P<.0000003) and by 2 (18%) of 25 brand B faucets compared to 10 (9%) of 110 manual faucets (P=1.0).Conclusions:A certain brand of electronic water faucet used in the hospital was associated with unacceptable levels of microbial growth in water and was a continuing source of bacteria potentially hazardous to patients.

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 49-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Gibbs ◽  
C. R. Hayes

An area of a distribution network receiving organically rich treated water was studied for a period of one year to gain further understanding of the regrowth of bacteria in a water distribution network. These bacteria are considered to be harmless to man. Surveys additional to this study confirmed that enteroviruses and pathogenic bacteria (as defined by EC directives) were absent, consistent with the general absence of coliforms. Fixed points were sampled regularly for bacteriological analysis and for relevant physical and chemical parameters. Heterotrophic plate counts were carried out using standard methods and a study was conducted to test alternative techniques. It was found that bacterial regrowth occurred close to the treatment works and longer retention resulted in little increase in plate counts. Monochloramine residuals of 0.26mg/l or less did not prevent regrowth. The assimilable organic carbon concentration decreased through the distribution system and increased following booster chlorination. Plate counts showed a seasonal pattern peaking in the spring and autumn and decreasing in the summer and winter. The predominant genera of bacteria were Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes and Aeromonas with maximum counts of 17,000, 23,000 and 1,700 CFU/ml respectively. Heterotrophic plate counts using the R2A medium, spread plate method and 7 day incubation period were on average 190 times greater than counts using the UK standard method. The increase in count gained by using the alternative method was greatest at the sampling points furthest from the treatment works.


2019 ◽  
pp. 13-15
Author(s):  
Tatiana Ivanovna Zhilochkina ◽  
Andrei Igorevich Seliverstov

This article is devoted to a comprehensive study of drinking water before and after its purification. Water samples taken at 5 water supply and 5 water distribution stations of the city were used in the study. The author comes to the conclusion that the use of the monitoring system allows you to respond quickly to any changes in the quality of the drinking water, and quickly make decisions that affect its purification.


Author(s):  
Charles R. Ortloff

The origins of Nabataean Petra began c. 300 BCE from nomadic settlement origins and extended to later Roman administration of the city at 106 CE with final Byzantine occupation (Basile 2000) to the 7th century CE. Trade networks that extended throughout much of the ancient orient and Mediterranean world intersected at Petra and brought not only strategic and economic prominence but also the impetus to develop water resources to sustain increasing population and city elaboration demands. City development was influenced by architectural, cultural, and technological borrowings from Seleucid, Syro-Phoenician, Greek, Roman, and Far Eastern civilizations. The city water distribution system utilized many hydraulic technologies derived from these contacts that together with original technical innovations helped to maintain a high living standard throughout the centuries. Analysis of Nabataean piping networks indicates that design criteria were employed that promoted stable flows within piping, employed sequential particle settling basins to purify potable water supplies, promoted open-channel flow within piping at critical (maximum) flow rates that avoided leakage associated with pressurized systems, and matched spring supply rates to the maximum carrying capacity of pipelines. This demonstration of engineering capability indicated a high degree of skill in solving complex hydraulics problems to ensure a stable water supply and is a key reason behind the many centuries of flourishing city life. Because of Petra’s location between Egyptian, Babylonian, and Assyrian territories, many exterior influences dominated the Nabataean cultural landscape over time. The sacred spring created by Moses, as described in Exodus accounts, has been equated with the Ain Mousa spring outside of Petra although controversy exists as to its location (and historical accuracy) with contending Sinai sites. Biblical and Koranic references to areas around Petra relate to the use of water channels and springs by the inhabitants to maintain agriculture and settlements; Assyrian texts ascribed to the Sargonic era (715 BCE) mention tent cities in this area. The earliest proto-Nabataean period (6th century BCE) is derived from Edomite agriculturalists assimilating with nomadic tribal groups familiar with caravan-based trade activities. Although the origins of the Nabataeans remain controversial (Gleuck 1959, 1965; Taylor 2001; Guzzo and Schneider 2002), their final consolidation in areas around Petra in the early 3rd century BCE is evident from the archaeological record.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-235
Author(s):  
Muhammad Rizki Apritama ◽  
I Wayan Koko Suryawan ◽  
Yosef Adicita

ABSTRACTThe clean water supply system network on Lengkang Kecil Island was developed in 2019. A small portion of the community's freshwater comes from harvesting rainwater and dug wells, which are only obtained during the rainy season. The primary source of clean water used by the community comes from underwater pipelines with a daily discharge of 0.86 l/sec. The water supply of the Lengkang Kecil Island community is 74.3 m3/day, with 146 House Connections (HCs) and to serve public facilities such as elementary schools, primary health centers, and mosques. Hydraulic evaluation of clean water distribution using EPANET 2.0 software on flow velocity shows the lowest rate of 0.29 m/s and the highest of 1.21 m/s. The lowest pressure value in the distribution system is 6.94-6.96 m and headloss units in the range 0.08-0.25 m/km. These three criteria are still within the distribution network design criteria (feasible). A carbon footprint can be calculated from each activity from the analysis of the evaluation of clean water distribution networks. The most massive emissions came from pumping activities with 131 kg CO2-eq, followed by emissions from wastewater 62.5 kgCO2-eq. Further research is needed to determine the quality of wastewater and the design for a centralized wastewater treatment plant (IPALT) to improve Lengkang Kecil Island residents' living standards.Keywords: Lengkang Kecil Island, water, EPANET, carbon footprintABSTRAKJaringan sistem penyediaan air bersih pada Pulau Lengkang Kecil dimulai pada tahun 2019. Sebagian kecil air bersih yang digunakan masyarakat berasal dari pemanenan air hujan dan sumur gali yang hanya didapat pada musim hujan. Sumber air bersih utama yang digunakan masyarakat berasal dari pengaliran perpipaan bawah laut dengan debit harian 0,86 l/detik. Kebutuhan air masyarakat Pulau Lengkang Kecil adalah 74,3 m3/hari dengan 146 Sambungan Rumah (SR) serta untuk melayani fasilitas umum seperti sekolah dasar (SD), puskesmas, dan masjid. Evaluasi hidrolis distribusi air bersih dengan menggunakan software EPANET 2.0 terhadap kriteria kecepatan aliran menunjukkan nilai terendah 0,29 m/s dan tertinggi 1,21 m/s. Nilai sisa tekan dalam sistem distribusi adalah 6,94–6,96 m dan unit headloss pada kisaran 0,08–0,25 m/km. Ketiga kriteria ini masih berada dalam kriteria desain jaringan distribusi (layak). Dari analisis evaluasi jaringan distribusi air bersih, dapat dihitung jejak karbon yang dihasilkan dari setiap kegiatannya. Emisi terbesar berasal dari kegiatan pemompaan dengan nilai 131 kgCO2-eq, diikuti dengan emisi yang berasal dari air limbah dengan nilai 62,5 kgCO2-eq. Penelitian lanjutan diperlukan untuk mengetahui kualitas dari air limbah dan desain untuk instalasi pengolahan air limbah terpusat (IPALT) untuk meningkatkan taraf hidup penduduk Pulau Lengkang Kecil.Kata kunci: Pulau Lengkang Kecil, air, EPANET, jejak karbon


2013 ◽  
Vol 438-439 ◽  
pp. 1551-1554
Author(s):  
Shuang Hua He

Conventional demand-driven models of water supply system are formulated under the assumption that nodal demands are statistic constants, which is not suitable for the cases where nodal pressure is not sufficient for supplying the required demand. An efficient approach for pressure-dependent demand analysis was developed to simulate the hydraulic states of the network for low pressure scenarios, and the mean-first-order-second-moment method was introduced to do the functional reliability analysis of post-earthquake water supply system, which can be applied to further study for seismic performance control analysis of water distribution system.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelly Molina Frechero ◽  
Leonor Sánchez Pérez ◽  
Enrique Castañeda Castaneira ◽  
Anastasio Oropeza Oropeza ◽  
Enrique Gaona ◽  
...  

Fluoride is ingested primarily through consuming drinking water. When drinking water contains fluoride concentrations >0.7 parts per million (ppm), consuming such water can be toxic to the human body; this toxicity is called “fluorosis.” Therefore, it is critical to determine the fluoride concentrations in drinking water. The objective of this study was to determine the fluoride concentration in the drinking water of the city of Durango. The wells that supply the drinking water distribution system for the city of Durango were studied. One hundred eighty-nine (189) water samples were analyzed, and the fluoride concentration in each sample was quantified as established by the law NMX-AA-077-SCFI-2001. The fluoride concentrations in such samples varied between 2.22 and 7.23 ppm with a 4.313 ± 1.318 ppm mean concentration. The highest values were observed in the northern area of the city, with a 5.001 ± 2.669 ppm mean value. The samples produced values that exceeded the national standard for fluoride in drinking water. Chronic exposure to fluoride at such concentrations produces harmful health effects, the first sign of which is dental fluorosis. Therefore, it is essential that the government authorities implement water defluoridation programs and take preventative measures to reduce the ingestion of this toxic halogen.


2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles R. Ortloff

The water supply and distribution system of the Nabataean city of Petra in southwestern Jordan has been explored and mapped. Analysis of the system indicates exploitation of all possible water resources using management techniques that balance reservoir storage capacity with continuous flow pipeline systems to maintain a constant water supply throughout the year. Nabataean Petra was founded c. 300 bc; urban development progressed with later Roman administration of the city starting at ad 106; Byzantine occupation continued to the seventh century ad. Trade networks that extended throughout much of the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world intersected at Petra, and brought not only strategic and economic prominence, but also impetus to develop water resources fully to sustain demands of increasing population and city elaboration. City development was influenced by artistic, cultural and technological borrowings from Seleucid, Syro-Phoenician, Greek and Roman civilizations; the Petra water-distribution system included hydraulic technologies derived from these contacts as well as original technical innovations that helped to maintain the high living standard of city dwellers throughout the centuries. Analysis of the Nabataean water network indicates design criteria that promote stable flows and use sequential particle-settling basins to purify potable water supplies. They also promote open channel flows within piping at critical (maximum) flow rates that avoid leakage associated with pressurized systems and have the design function to match the spring supply rate to the maximum carrying capacity of a pipeline. This demonstration of engineering capability indicates a high degree of cognitive skill in solving complex hydraulic problems to ensure a stable water supply and may be posited as a key reason behind the many centuries of flourishing city life.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Vannucci Capelletti ◽  
Ângela Maria Moraes

Water is the main stimulus for the development of microorganisms, and its flow has an important role in the spreading of contaminants. In hospitals, the water distribution system requires special attention since it can be a source of pathogens, including those in the form of biofilms often correlated with resistance of microorganisms to various treatments. In this paper, information relevant to cases of nosocomial infections involving water circuits as a source of contaminants is compiled, with emphasis on the importance of microbiological control strategies to prevent the installation, spreading and growth of microorganisms in hospitals. An overview of the worldwide situation is provided, with emphasis on Brazilian hospitals. Different approaches normally used to control the occurrence of nosocomial infections due to waterborne contaminants are analyzed, and the use of the polysaccharide chitosan for this specific application is briefly discussed.


Author(s):  
Marina Valentukeviciene ◽  
Aukse Amosenkiene ◽  
Regimantas Dauknys

Quality changes of drinking water in the water supply network (case study from Lithuania) The purpose of this research was to examine water quality changes by distributing in to the water supply network. Water samples were collected from Varena town (Lithuania) drinking water distribution system fed by groundwater from well field. Parameters related to undesirable increasing of nitrites and nitrates concentrations have been measured considering these samples: pH, conductivity, concentration of total iron, manganese, ammonium, nitrates and nitrites. Results showed that groundwater from well field were extremely susceptible to favor bacterial growth in the pipelines. The occurrence of nitrites and nitrates in drinking water samples correlated positively with the lengths of old iron pipelines and negatively with the content of newly laid pipelines. The obtained results also showed that the potential nitrates increasing induced by the distribution of treated water could be reduced if: nitrates levels were below detection limits at the outlet of the water treatment plant; biological ammonium removal treatment implementation should reduce the levels of the nitrates and nitrites of the treated supplied water. Although the nitrates concentration increase in drinking water distribution systems, the issues with nitrites accumulation are rare in Lithuania. However, such processes still need to be proved in more extensive investigation, but these research results could be applied as a basic scenario.


Author(s):  
Chalchisa Milkecha ◽  
Habtamu Itefa

This study was conducted generally by aiming assessment of the hydraulic performance of water distribution systems of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU). In line with the main objective, this study addressed, (1) pinpointing problems of existing water supply versus demand deficit (2) evaluating the hydraulic performance of water distribution system using water GEMS and (3) recommended alternative methods for improving water demand scenarios. The University&rsquo;s water supply distribution network layout was a looped system and the flow of water derived by both gravity and pressurized system. The gravity flow served for the academic and administrative staffs whereas the pressurized system of the network fed the students dormitories, cafeteria&rsquo;s etc. The study revealed the existence of unmet minimum pressure requirement around the student dormitories which accounts 25.64% below the country&rsquo;s building code standard during the peak hour consumption. The result of the water demand projection showed an increment of 2.5 liter per capita demand (LPCD) in every five years. Hence, first, the university&rsquo;s water demand was projected and then hydraulic parameters such as; pressure, head loss and velocity were modeled for both the existing and the improved water supply distribution. The finding of the study was recommended to the university&rsquo;s water supply project and institutional development offices for its future modification and rehabilitation works.


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