AWWA WQTC58788

The historical approach for microbial protection has been embodied in the multiple barrier concept, process control (turbidity, disinfection, etc.) and monitoring. The information for assessing this approach has been principally based on bacterial indicators. This paper discusses how the assurance of the microbial safety of water in the 21st century is moving to incorporate data obtained by the direct detection of pathogens (typically using molecular methods), targeting pathogens that are hard to treat (viruses and protozoa), and application of microbial risk assessment techniques that push even lower the acceptable levels of potable water risk. The paper ends with a short discussion of improvement in treatment barriers. Includes 8 references, figures.