Pipe material significantly affected microbial regrowth and potential risks in reclaimed water distribution systems
Yuan Bai1, Song Xue2, Yinhu Wu3
1School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|October 14, 2025
Summary
Polyethylene (PE) pipes show superior microbial control in reclaimed water distribution systems (RWDSs) compared to iron and steel. This finding is crucial for reducing microbial risks and ensuring safer water reuse.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Reclaimed water distribution systems (RWDSs) face challenges from secondary pollution and microbial risks.
- Understanding microbial dynamics and water quality in RWDSs is vital for public health and water reuse.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate temporal variations in water characteristics and microbial communities within RWDSs.
- To compare the performance of different pipe materials (ductile iron, cement mortar lined ductile iron, polyethylene, and carbon steel) in controlling microbial regrowth and maintaining water quality.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 140-day investigations on RWDSs with four different pipe materials.
- Analyzed water characteristics, microbial regrowth, and microbial communities.
- Utilized redundancy analysis and Mantel tests to correlate microbial communities with water properties.
Main Results:
- Polyethylene (PE) systems exhibited superior microbial regrowth control and water quality maintenance compared to ductile iron (DI), cement mortar lined ductile iron (CI), and carbon steel (CS) systems.
- Pathogens and disinfection-resistant bacteria were less abundant in PE systems, while corrosion-associated bacteria were more prevalent in DI and CS systems.
- Microbial communities were significantly influenced by pipe material and correlated with extracellular polymeric substances and reclaimed water characteristics.
Conclusions:
- PE pipes offer significant advantages for microbial risk control and water quality maintenance in RWDSs.
- Pipe material selection is a critical factor in ensuring the safety and practicality of wastewater reclamation.
- Findings provide valuable insights for optimizing RWDS design and management to mitigate microbial risks.
Keywords:
Microbial communityMicrobial riskPipe materialReclaimed water characteristicsReclaimed water distribution systems (RWDSs)More Related Videos
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