Experimental based experiences with the introduction of a water safety plan for a multi-located university clinic and its efficacy according to WHO recommendations

BACKGROUND: Due to the high number of immunosuppressed and other predisposed patients hospitals have to control and ensure the microbiological water quality. The origin for the occurrence of pathogenic microorganisms in water pipes is the formation of biofilm. METHODS: For the permanent control of water safety a water safety plan (WSP) was realized as recommended by the WHO following the principle "search and destroy". The WSP is based on an established HACCP concept due to the special focus. The most important measures include the concept for sample taking depending on patient risk. 3 different categories) are distinguished: risk area1 (high infection risk), risk 2 (moderate infection risk), and risk area 3 (not increased infection risk). Additionally to the threshold value of the German law for the quality of drinking water (TrinkwV) three more limiting values were defined (warning, alert, and worst case) for immediate risk adapted reaction. Additional attention has to be focussed on lavatory sinks, which are an open bacterial reservoir. Therefore continuous disinfecting siphons were installed as part of the WSP in high risk areas. If extended technical equipment is not available, especially for immunocompromised patients the following measures are easy to realize: boiled (or sun exposed) water for nursing procedures as well alimentary use, no showering. RESULTS: Comparing data over 3 years the microbial water quality was significantly improved resulting in no new case of nosocomial Legionella pneumoniae and decrease in neonatal sepsis. CONCLUSION: According to average situations with highly contaminated water system the management must be defined with implementation of water task force, immediate providing of special equipment, information of patients and staff and control of the water quality, an example for successful decontamination of the hospital within 24 hours is given

Use of coliphages to evaluate water treatment processes and determine faecal contamination origin of source waters

Viral indicators were used to evaluate the effectiveness of water treatment processes and to determine the source of faecal pollution with a view to promote water source management. Water samples were collected from three critical points of the Temba, Klipdrift and Wall- mansthal water treatment plants (raw water, settled water and filtered water). The viral indicator concentrations and selected physicochemical parameters were measured using standard methods. Random water samples were subjected to real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. Sub- sequent to filtration, the removal efficiency of the three Waterworks was recorded as follows: 93.2, 96.1 and 95.7 % for somatic coliphages, respectively; and 69.4 and 68.4 % FRNA coliphages for Temba and Klipdrift. There was a notable 50 % reappearance of FRNA coliphages in filtered water samples from Wallmansthal. Positive corre- lations were observed between the physicochemical parameters and somatic coliphages, with the exception of the pH and the temperature in Wallmansthal. Both turbidity and temperature indicated positive correlations with FRNA counts from Temba and Klipdrift. Negative correlations were observed between all the physicochemical parameters and FRNA counts from Wallmansthal. The real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed the persis- tence of GA genotype FRNA (Group II, which is of human faecal origin) in all the water samples. The MS2 genotype (Group I) and Q β genotype (Group III) FRNA, which are of animal origin, were detected only in the raw water from Temba. Efforts should be focused on the protection of water sources and the optimisation of treatment processes in order to prevent viral persistence during water treatment

Assessment of the water sources for potential channels of faecal contamination within Vhembe District Municipality using sanitary inspections and hydrogen sulphide test

Abstract Numerous human activities and poor sanitation management cause public health concern, particularly in rural communities without reliable water supply systems and resources for the monitoring of the quality of their water sources. This study assessed the relationship between observed sanitary risks and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) strip test results in the identification of faecal contamination of various water sources used at household level in rural areas of the Vhembe District Municipality. The highest percentage sanitary risk scores ranging from 50 to 100% were recorded for both river and dam water commonly used by the households for multiple purposes, including drinking. All the surface water samples (100%) also tested positive for H2S production, which is linked to the contamination of water sources by bacteria of faecal origin. The overall results showed a significant and positive correlation (r = 0.623, p = 0.003 in the wet season and r = 0.504, p = 0.017 in the dry season) between sanitary risk scores and H2S strip test results. In low resource settings, the use of sanitary inspections combined with the inexpensive and easy-to-use H2S strip tests can be effective as drinking water quality management tools to raise an awareness among community members of the faecal contamination of their water sources

Nutrient removal from activated sludge mixed liquor by wastewater protozoa in a laboratory scale batch reactor

The aim of the study was to investigate the nutrient removal rate of three wastewater protozoan isolates. The study was carried out in a laboratory-scale batch reactor for a period of 120 h. in a four batch study. Aliquot samples were withdrawn from the reactor every 24 h. for the analysis of phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen and pH, using standard methods. The results obtained in the different batches among the three isolates showed PO42- removal rate ranging from 0.04 to 0.52 mg-PO42-/L/h. while NO3- nitrate removal rates ranged from 0.08 to 0.16 mg-NO3-/L /h. Also NO2- and NH3- rates were observed to range between 0.022 and 0.087 mg-NO2-/L /h. 0.05 and 0.16 mg-NH3-/L /h, respectively. For the physicochemical parameters, there was no observed COD decrease; rather there was an increase and this was irrespective of isolates and experimental batches. However, dissolved oxygen concentration decreased drastically (below 1 mg/L) at the end of each batch while pH show a decrease after an initial 24 h. period and thereafter increased. This trend was also irrespective of isolates and experimental batches. Overall, the study has been able to show the effect of the test isolates on nutrient removal rates and other physicochemical parameters (COD, DO and pH) in activated sludge mixed liquor

Priority water research questions for South Africa developed through participatory processes

This paper describes a collaborative process of identifying and prioritising current and future water research questions from a wide range of water specialists within South Africa. Over 1 600 questions were collected, reduced in number and prioritised by specialists working in water research and practice. A total of 59 questions were finally proposed as an outcome of the study and are categorised under the themes of change, data, ecosystems, governance, innovation and resources. The questions range in scale, challenge and urgency, and are also aligned with prevailing paradigms in water research. The majority of the questions dealt with relatively short- to medium-term research requirements and most focused on immediate issues such as water supply, service delivery and technical solutions. Formulations of long-term research questions were sparse, partly because some of the principles and methods used in this study were difficult to apply in the South African context, and also because researchers are influenced by addressing what are believed to be the more immediate, short-term water-related challenges in South Africa. This is the first initiative of its kind to produce a comprehensive and inclusive list of research priorities for water in South Africa