Assessment of biofilm formation in the International Space Station Water Recovery and Management system

Tests are being conducted at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center with the purpose of assessing possible water quality changes and potential biofilm formation in the water distribution system of the International Space Station (ISS) Water Recovery and Management (WRM) System. The Biofilm Life Test and Water Degradation Study (WDS) will be discussed in this article. The Biofilm Life Test examines the potential for biofilm formation in the ISS water distribution plumbing and storage tanks. The test has two independent loops; one simulates the waste water prior to the processing by the ISS Water Processor (WP), and the other simulates the processed (clean) water after the ISS WP. The test setup design incorporates tube lengths and angles, material types, flow rates, and recommended hardware that represent the ISS water distribution system. The WDS purpose is to assess changes in water quality (chemical and microbiological) during stagnant, long-term storage in distribution lines. Test results demonstrate that prior to the operation of the ISS WP, water can be stored in the ISS water distribution lines.