What is Biofilm?
Biofilm is made up of a combination of micro-organisms including bacteria, algae, fungi, etc. that have attached to a surface. The organisms produce a "glue" which hold the organisms together producing colonies of micro-organisms in a thin fluid layer.
Sites for biofilm formation include all kinds of surfaces: natural materials above and below ground, metals, plastics, medical implant materials; even plant and body tissue. Biofilm can and will grow in any fluid and forms in areas of low flow within a system where the bacteria can safely attach to a surface without being washed off by the flowing fluid. Although biofilm is usually microscopic, if given sufficient resources for growth it can quickly become macroscopic; also know as a BioMass.
Sites for biofilm formation include all kinds of surfaces: natural materials above and below ground, metals, plastics, medical implant materials; even plant and body tissue. Biofilm can and will grow in any fluid and forms in areas of low flow within a system where the bacteria can safely attach to a surface without being washed off by the flowing fluid. Although biofilm is usually microscopic, if given sufficient resources for growth it can quickly become macroscopic; also know as a BioMass.
Why Biofilm control is essential?
We pay a lot for clean water to be delivered to our facilities, but this doesn't guarantee that the water will come out of our faucets or showers with the same quality. Although municipal water contains small quantities of disinfectant there is not enough to prevent biofilm growth in systems. This is especially true of systems which have been unused for long periods.
As biofilm grows it expands into the flowing water and releases large numbers of bacteria. These bacteria travel to seed other parts of the system, or exit the system entrained in drinking water, process water, etc. Severe adverse effects can be caused by biofilm including medical infections, taste and odor problems, product contamination, equipment and infrastructure corrosion and legal and liability issues.
While biofilm can pose a significant health risk, Microbially Induced Corrosion (MIC), which is almost always associated with biofilm, can lead to costly system failures. MIC occurs when the bacteria in the biofilm produce acid as a metabolic by product. This attacks the metal surface causing corrosion. In fact everyone has to deal with biofilm corrosion every day. Plaque on teeth is a biofilm, and if we don't remove it, the acid produced eats away our teeth.
Every year biofilm contamination costs organizations billions of dollars in remediation, legal and regulatory fees, and image and brand damage.
As biofilm grows it expands into the flowing water and releases large numbers of bacteria. These bacteria travel to seed other parts of the system, or exit the system entrained in drinking water, process water, etc. Severe adverse effects can be caused by biofilm including medical infections, taste and odor problems, product contamination, equipment and infrastructure corrosion and legal and liability issues.
While biofilm can pose a significant health risk, Microbially Induced Corrosion (MIC), which is almost always associated with biofilm, can lead to costly system failures. MIC occurs when the bacteria in the biofilm produce acid as a metabolic by product. This attacks the metal surface causing corrosion. In fact everyone has to deal with biofilm corrosion every day. Plaque on teeth is a biofilm, and if we don't remove it, the acid produced eats away our teeth.
Every year biofilm contamination costs organizations billions of dollars in remediation, legal and regulatory fees, and image and brand damage.