J Water SRT - Aqua 52 81-94 (2003)

Disinfection resistance of waterborne pathogens on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Contaminant Candidate List (CCL)

Charles P. Gerba, Nena Nwachuku and Kelley R. Riley

Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA Tel: 520-621-6906 Fax: 520-621-6163 E-mail: gerba@ag.arizona.edu

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, Washington, DC 20460, USA

Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA Tel: 520-621-6906 Fax: 520-621-6163 E-mail: gerba@ag.arizona.edu

In 1999, the United States Environmental Protection Agency developed a list of emerging waterborne microbial pathogens that may pose a risk in drinking water. This review deals with the disinfection resistance of microorganisms on the Contaminate Candidate List or CCL. Current disinfection practices in the United States appear to be capable of dealing with most of the microorganisms on the CCL, with the exception of Mycobacterium avium and adenoviruses. Mycobacterium avium is more resistant to most disinfectants than other waterborne bacteria and adenoviruses are the most resistant waterborne microorganisms to inactivation by ultraviolet disinfection. The microsporidium, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, shows significant resistance to inactivation by chemical disinfectants and further research on additional species of microsporidia appears to be warranted.

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