Nitrification In Monochloramine-Treated Water

A water utility in the Midwest USA uses Monochloramine treatment in their two surface water treatment plants to disinfect raw water and establish residual disinfectant prior to discharge to their distribution system. Like most water utilities that use Monochloramines, city officials were concerned about the possibility of nitrification occurring in the distribution system. An elevated microbial population or established biofilm can often cause premature loss of chlorine residual, resulting in leftover ammonia which can serve as a food source for nitrifying bacteria. Since nitrifying bacteria cannot be grown using traditional culturing methods, they often go unnoticed.