AWWA JAW62317

Removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts from drinking water is essential because of their potential to cause waterborne disease outbreaks. Removal is challenging, however, because of their prevalence in natural waters and resistance to chlorine disinfection. Detection of Cryptosporidium in drinking water samples is expensive, slow, and frequently unreliable. This research used different-colored polystyrene microspheres to compare the performance of conventional and biological filters in removing Cryptosporidium oocysts. Whereas previous studies focused on the steady-state portion of the filter run, this work looked at removals during and immediately following filter ripening. Includes 34 references, tables, figures.