Developments in biotechnology of relevance to drinking water preparation

This paper discusses strategies to increase the feasibility of microorganisms for the removal of toxic xenobiotics from waste water and drinking water. Based on the principles of adaptational mutations and genetic exchange of catabolic activities, it becomes possible to select and engineer microorganisms that are suitable for the degradation of recalcitrant compounds. The detailed biochemical knowledge that is required for this is now rapidly evolving, and especially for the degradation of chlorinated organics several detoxifying dehalogenation mechanisms have been studied in detail. The feasibility of specialized bacteria for waste and water treatment will be dependent on the possibility to obtain stable performance and maintenance in treatment systems.