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Public Water Supply Distribution Systems Assessing and Reducing Risks: First Report (2005) / Chapter Skim
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6 Summary
Pages 30-34

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
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From page 30...
... Cross connections and backflow. Cross connections and backflow events are ranked as the highest priority because of the long history of recognized health risks posed by cross connections, the clear epidemiological and surveillance data implicating these events with outbreaks or sporadic cases of waterborne disease, and the availability of proven technologies to prevent cross connections.
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From page 31...
... Although biofilms are widespread in distribution systems, the public health risk from this source of exposure appears to be limited to opportunistic pathogens that may cause disease in the immunocompromised population. Some data suggest that biofilms may protect microbial pathogens from disinfection, but there are few studies directly linking health effects to biofilms.
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From page 32...
... Excessive leaching of organic substances from pipe materials, linings, joining and sealing materials, coatings, and cement mortar pipe have occasionally been noted in the literature. Leaching is a relatively low priority relative to other distribution system problems and can be controlled by regulating the materials that are used in distribution and premise plumbing systems, by specifying the water chemistry that must be used if certain materials are to be employed, and by appropriate monitoring requirements.
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From page 33...
... Confronting deteriorating infrastructure requires good asset management, including procedures to monitor and assess the condition of the distribution system and water quality changes that occur during distribution. Furthermore, appropriate maintenance, repair, and replacement should be carried out as needed, and operating and capital budgets should be available to finance this work.
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Key Terms

  • premise plumbing
  • drinking water
  • health risk
  • health risks
  • waterborne disease

  • priority issues
  • cross connections
  • medium priority
  • water age
  • surveillance data

  • quality maintenance
  • water distribution
  • disease outbreaks
  • maintenance practices
  • insufficient data

  • main breaks
  • recognized health
  • protection issue
  • lower priority
  • confronting deteriorating

  • capacity accompanied
  • prevent cross
  • priority distribution
  • proven technologies
  • hydraulic capacity

  • using categories
  • sensitive populations
  • pipe diameter
  • particular water
  • plumbing characteristics


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