Microbiology in Civil Engineering: Proceedings of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies Symposium held at Cranfield Institute of Technology, UK

395 Pages·1990·42.282 MB·\395

by  P. Howsam (Editor)

Microbiology in
Civil Engineering

FEMS Symposium No. 59
Microbiology in
C i v i l Engineering
P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n o f E u r o p e a n
M i c r o b i o l o g i c a l S o c i e t i e s S y m p o s i u m h e l d a t
C r a n f i e l d I n s t i t u t e o f T e c h n o l o g y , U K
3 - 5 S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 9 0
Edited by
UK
Taylor & Francis
Taylor & Francis Group
L O N D O N A N D N E W Y O R K
Published by Taylor & Francis
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
270 Madison Ave, New York NY 10016
First edition 1990
Transferred to Digital Printing 2006
© 1990 Taylor & Francis
ISBN 0 419 16730 7 (HB) 0 442 31277 6 (USA)
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Federation of European Microbiological Societies Symposium
{Cranfield, England: 1990)
Microbiology in civil engineering.
1. Civil engineering. Microbiological aspects
I. Title II. Howsam, P. III. Series
624
ISBN 0-419-16730-7
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Available
Publisher's Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this
reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original
may be apparent
Contents
Preface j
x
Acknowledgements xi
P A R T O N E I N T R O D U C T I O N 1
1 Microbes in civil engineering environments: Introduction 3
D.R. CULLIMORE
P A R T T W O O V E R V I E W S O F T H E M A I N
M I C R O B I O L O G I C A L P R O C E S S E S R E L E V A N T T O
CIVIL E N G I N E E R I N G 1 3
2 Microbes in civil engineering environments: biofilms
and biofouling 1 5
D.R. CULLIMORE
3 Biocorrosion in civil engineering 2 4
A.K. TILLER
4 Biodeterioration of materials used in civil engineering 3 9
K.J. SEAL
P A R T T H R E E W A T E R S U P P L Y E N G I N E E R I N G 5 3
5 Bacterial growth potential in the distribution system 5 5
O . A D A M and Y.KOTT
6 Fouling and corrosion in water filtration and
transportation systems 6 2
R.G.J. EDYVEAN
7 Engineered water systems and waterborne disease 7 5
G.I. MISTRY and R. van W O E R K O M
v
8 Study on biofouling forming in industrial cooling
water systems 8 0
Gy. LAKATOS
P A R T F O U R E N G I N E E R I N G M A T E R I A L S 9 5
9 Major biodeterioration aspects of buildings in Romania 9 7
A. POPESCU and T. BESCHEA
10 The biodeterioration of polyester polyurethane in
soil/marine contact 1 0 9
M.J. KAY, L.H.G. M O R T O N and E.L. PRINCE
11 Influence of materials on the microbiological colonization
of drinking water 1 2 1
D. SCHOENEN
12 Degradation of concrete in sewer environment by biogenic
sulfuric acid attack 1 4 6
A.C.A. Van MECHELEN and R.B. POLDER
13 Micromorphological aspects of the microbial
decay of wood 1 5 8
R. V E N K A T A S A M Y , R. MOUZOURAS, E.B.G. JONES and S.T. MOSS
P A R T F I V E G R O U N D W A T E R E N G I N E E R I N G 1 8 1
14 Biofouling in Sierra Colorado water supply: a case study 1 8 3
R.E. ALCALDE and M A . GARIBOGLIO
15 Iron biofouling in groundwater abstraction systems:
why and how? 1 9 2
P. H O W S A M and S.F. TYRREL
16 Complexity of causes of well yield decrease 1 9 8
F. BARBIC, O. KRAJCIC and I. SAVIC
17 Theoretical evaluation of production losses from a water
well which involves biofouling 2 0 9
D.R. CULLIMORE
vi
18 Occurrence and derivation of iron-binding bacteria in
iron-bearing groundwater
K. OLANCZUK-NEYMAN
P A R T SIX L A N D D R A I N A G E A N D R E C L A M A T I O N
A N D W A S T E D I S P O S A L
19 Biotreatment of contaminated land
B. ELLIS and R.J.F. BEWLEY
20 Clogging problems in a subsurface pressure distribution
system for wastewater disposal
G. CHERIER, J. LESAVRE and A. ZAIRI
21 Elimination of Ochre deposits from drainpipe systems
A.ABELIOVICH
P A R T S E V E N G E O T E C H N I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G
22 Biological factors influencing laboratory and
field diffusion
R.M. QUIGLEY, E.K. Y A N F U L and F. FERNANDEZ
2 3 The effects of heavy civil engineering and stockpiling on
the soil microbial community
J A. HARRIS and P. BIRCH
24 Case studies of floor heave due to microbiological
activity in pyritic shales
RJ. COLLINS
25 A case study of sulphate induced ground heave
A.B.HAWKINS
26 Biological strengthening of marine sediments
D. MUIR WOOD, P.S. M E A D O W S and A. TUFAIL
2 7 Design of pressure relief wells with an integral cleaning
system for a large earth-fill dam
C M . JEWELL
vii
28 A case study of biofilm formation in association with
methane seepage into an underground tunnel 3 2 8
C.F.C. PEARSON and M.J. B R O W N
29 Biofouling of site dewatering systems 3 4 1
W. POWRIE, T.O.L. ROBERTS and S.A. JEFFERIS
P A R T E I G H T D I A G N O S I S , M O N I T O R I N G
A N D C O N T R O L 3 5 3
30 The Achilles expert system on corrosion and protection 3 5 5
D. HOLMES and P. BALKWILL
31 Corrosion monitoring and inspection 3 7 0
C.F. BRITTON
Index 3 7 9
viii
Preface
In recent years understanding of processes such as biodeterioration and
biofouling, i n fields usually outside civil engineering, has increased
tremendously. Yet these processes, involving the activity of bacteria and
other microorganisms are of relevance to all civil engineers in the full
range of the artificial systems and natural environments which they
engineer. Examples of where microbial processes are now known to
have a significant affect include: corrosion; deterioration of concrete and
many other construction materials; impairment of flow in groundwater
abstraction systems/in pipes and pumps/in pressure relief and drainage
systems i n embankment dams; clogging of irrigation and drainage
systems; alteration of soil/rock properties, production of harmful gases.
For a long time many of these 'buried' problems have been thought of,
purely i n terms of physical and chemical processes. What is often
happening, but going unnoticed, is some form of microbial activity,
which initiates, enhances or is encouraged by, other processes. W h en it
is considered that the average bacteria cell is only a few microns in size,
then it is hardly surprising if their activity does often go unnoticed.
At present therefore, the problems are as much the lack of awareness
and therefore lack of diagnosis and quantification, as are any adverse
effects o n structure or operation. Obvious cases, say of corrosion or
clogging have o f course been identified i n the past, but the applied
remedies will only have related to the perceived chemical/physical
causes, thus often allowing reoccurrence of the problem. In the case of
less obvious manifestations, the concern is that long term damage and/or
reductions in efficiency are gradually occurring unnoticed over periods
of time.
Civil engineering constantly involves the interface of artificial struc-
tures with a wide diversity of subsurface soil-water environments,
where, and engineers need perhaps to be reminded of this, microorgan-
isms are omnipresent. For example, that nice fresh earthy smell you
notice when digging the garden or moving top soil about on site, is due to
the presence of a particular bacteria group called Actinomyces. Microor-
ganisms are able to adapt to wide ranges of pH, temperature, oxygen and
nutrient (i.e. C, N, P. S) supply, even to incredible extremes. There is
evidence to show for example that biofilms (microbial growths o n
surfaces) can exist, indeed thrive, in circumstances where turbulence
and high velocities/pressures occur. Again as an example, the plaque
ix