Drinking Water Engineering and Science Discussions
www.drink-water-eng-sci-discuss.net
1996-9473
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2008
10.5194/dwesd-1-173-2008
http://www.drink-water-eng-sci-discuss.net/1/173/2008/
http://www.drink-water-eng-sci-discuss.net/1/173/2008/dwesd-1-173-2008.html
http://www.drink-water-eng-sci-discuss.net/1/173/2008/dwesd-1-173-2008.pdf
173
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2008-10-27
The Dutch secret: safe drinking water without chlorine in the Netherlands
P. W. M. H. Smeets
G. J. Medema
J. C. van Dijk
j.c.vandijk@tudelft.nl
Kiwa Water Research, Groningenhaven 7, 3433 PE Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
Technical University Delft, PO. Box 5048, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of the few countries where chlorine is not used at
all, neither for primary disinfection nor to maintain a residual
disinfectant in the distribution network. The Dutch approach that allows
production and distribution of drinking water without the use of chlorine
while not compromising microbial safety at the tap, can be summarized as
follows:
<ol>
<li>Use the best source available, in order of preference:<br>
– microbiologically safe groundwater,<br>
– surface water with soil passage such as artificial recharge or bank filtration,<br>
– direct treatment of surface water in a multiple barrier treatment;</li>
<li>Use a preferred physical process treatment such as sedimentation, filtration and UV-disinfection. If absolutely necessary, also oxidation by means of ozone or peroxide can be used, but chlorine is avoided;</li>
<li>Prevent ingress of contamination during distribution;</li>
<li>Prevent microbial growth in the distribution system by production and distribution of biologically stable (biostable) water and the use of biostable materials;</li>
<li>Monitor for timely detection of any failure of the system to prevent significant health consequences.</li>
</ol>
New developments in safe drinking water in the Netherlands include the
adaptation of the Dutch drinking water decree, implementation of
quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) by water companies and
research into source water quality, drinking water treatment efficacy, safe
distribution and biostability of drinking water during distribution and
\textit{Legionella}. This paper summarizes how the Dutch water companies warrant the safety of
the drinking water without chlorine.
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