Exposure Risks of the Drinking Water System
The drinking water system is a complex system that relies on properly operating municipal treatment facilities as well as a safe infrastructure system that can reliably carry drinking water to consumers. While this system has successfully improved exposure to infectious waterborne pathogens, over the last several decades it has been seen that a wide range of emerging safety issues has risen in the drinking water system, though it is associated with changes to drinking water post-treatment within the pipe infrastructure. This study presents work primarily examining the regrowth of microorganisms within the water system post-treatment. In addition to this, a more holistic assessment of the vulnerabilities of the drinking water system is presented including corrosion, pathogen regrowth, and disinfection byproduct formation.
Clifford Swanson received their doctorate from the University of Tennessee in civil engineering studying the dynamics of the drinking water microbiome. Currently, he is an assistant professor at the University of Idaho in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in Moscow. Clifford’s research focuses on risks associated with drinking water including pathogen growth and contaminant exposures.