Measuring the Applicability of Biosensors to Detect Possible Terror Chemicals in Water Distribution Network

Instant and accurate detection of chemical contamination in a water distribution system is significant in protecting public health and water resource. Using water quality surrogates to signal a contamination occurrence offers the advantage of detecting a large number of chemicals. This article describes how the indigenous biofilm in a contaminated drinking water system may provide an effective indirect surrogate response with either turbidity or ultraviolet changes (UV254). Rotating annular bioreactors (RAB) and pipe loops were used to quantify biofilm along with turbidity and UV254 measurements. The number of biofilm cells on the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) analytical coupons was also enumerated, using automated fluorescence microscopy. Measuring the biosensing capacity, the analytical coupons were submersed into beakers with potential chemical contaminants such as aldicarb, cyanide, cycloheximide, nicotine, sodium arsenate, and sodium fluoroacetate. Resulting data indicated that turbidity was a useful surrogate for forensically monitoring chemical contaminants. Turbidity measurement can make an inexpensive biosensor for the security of a water distribution system.