Deadline- 3 December 2012
Countries/Region- All Countries
Proposals are invited for development of a Risk Management Strategy for Legionella in Recycled Water Systems through which diseases caused by the water are cured.
Legionella is a ubiquitous and well known drinking water pathogen that can cause respiratory illness, disease, and death, particularly from aerosolization of disease causing strains such as L. pneumophila. Drinking water suppliers have already prepared themselves for public concerns of Legionella in drinking water distribution systems, cooling towers, water features, pools, spas, and especially hospitals, which have all been implicated in outbreaks. However, very little is known about the significance of Legionella spp. in recycled water distribution systems and end user sites. There is a need to garner a better understanding of the drivers of Legionella growth and whether the characteristics of recycled water pose a public health risk, relative to other sources of exposure.
Objectives-
- Summarize what is currently known about the incidence/occurrence of Legionella spp., especially for pathogenic species occurring in recycled water distribution systems and end user sites
- Characterize disinfection kinetics of Legionella spp. Emphasis should also be placed on recycled water treatment processes and include chemical and operational parameters which may be different from drinking water production facilities that could affect microbial water quality. Parameters should include type of disinfectant, disinfectant residual, residence time, temperature, etc.;
- Characterize the chemical and operational parameters of Legionella persistence and growth in recycled water distribution systems and end user sites. Parameters could include total organic carbon (TOC), assimilable organic carbon (AOC), biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC), nutrients, conveyance materials, trace metals, etc.
- Discuss whether the drivers characterized in objectives #2 and #3 are different in recycled water compared to drinking water or other water matrices, and describe management tools to minimize risk of Legionella spp. in recycled water;
- Characterize the relative risk to human health from Legionella in aerosols derived from recycled water, compared to drinking water, and assess management practices to reduce or minimize this risk;
- Summarize and evaluate management techniques to control Legionella occurrence and/or concentration, such as flushing, reduced detention time, disinfection strategies, etc.
Investigators should conduct an international literature survey of peer-reviewed publications and gray literature and summarize findings of what is currently known about the incidence and occurrence of Legionella spp., including serotype information, if available, in water and recycled water production facilities, distribution systems, and end user sites.
Schedule–
The estimated period of investigation for this project is 18-24 Months. The respondent should include a detailed timeline of the project, including start and end dates for each task. Quarterly progress reports will be due every three months throughout the investigation. At the end of the period of investigation, the Contractor will submit a final report to the Foundation. The contractual period of performance will include additional time for required revisions.
Project Advisory Committee–
A Project Advisory Committee (PAC) has been organized by the Foundation to provide guidance, review all reports and significant materials, and generally monitor project performance on behalf of the Foundation and other sponsoring organizations. The PAC will consist of about six members, including technical experts and representatives from the Foundation’s funding partners. The technical experts will include academics specializing in environmental engineering, a representative from a water agency, and an instrumentation industry expert.
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