Research Paper BIOFILMS AND BIOFOULING: COST AND EFFECT ON DRINKING WATER QUALITY FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

It is microbial cells attached to surfaces in moist environments that form biofilms. Biofouling implies their accumulation on both living and nonliving surfaces. Biofilm-associated cells are known to cost nations billions of US Dollars every year in equipment and machine maintenance, product contamination, medical device-related infections and energy loss; with attendant adverse effects on drinking water quality, causing disinfectant decay, taste, odour and spread of pathogenic diseases. However, biofouling reduces the efficiency of hydropower turbine and clog up pipes, channels and membranes, thus increasing the pumping costs incurred in the water distributions. Principally, these costs are goaded with those expended in continuous battle against biofilms in public health (medical) and domestic settings. While biofilms causes diverse array of problems, they can be of advantage. Biofilms function as biofilters, releasing metabolites such as organic and inorganic acids, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and displaying bioaccumulation properties. On this note, this paper reviews the challenges and various methods adopted to prevent and inhibit the formation of biofilms, managing biofilms, advances in biofilm research for quality drinking water, public health implications of biofilms and economic cost of biofilms.