Harmonized European method for assessment of microbial growth potential of material in contact with drinking water

The point of compliance in the Drinking Water Directive (98/83/¿¿) is the consumer¿s tap and thus requirements for the quality of materials used in distribution systems are set. On European level an approval scheme (EAS) for construction products in contact with drinking water is under development. As a part of the EAS procedure, the Biomass Production Potential (BPP) test has been proposed to be used as method for assessment of microbial growth support properties of products intended to contact with drinking water. The paper presents the results from an evaluation of 10 different materials using BPP test. The capacity of the tested materials to enhance microbial growth can be ranked: Cu < SS/GS < PP/PEx < PE < silicone < EPDM < PVCp. Only one of PE products, EPDM and PVCp had the BPP values above 1000 pg ATP/cm2. The BPP test could give reliable evaluations of the materials from the same type. The coefficients of variation of reproducibility for one and the same material were from 2 to 44%. A positive correlation between the planktonic biomass PB and the BPP was observed. The results demonstrate that products unsuitable for their intended use can deteriorate drinking water quality and focus on importance to be tested and approved for their intended use.

TSVETANOVA Zvezdimira;  HOEKSTRA Eddo; 

2011-11-21

BAS

JRC60521

0204-8248,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC60521,