Study shows copper may reduce E.coli in pipework
A
Copper Development Association product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jan 9, 2001
Copper has a significant antibacterial advantage over both polybutylene and stainless steel and demonstrated this for every temperature range and water hardness condition in a recent study
A recent study by Dr James Walker at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR) determined that three independent factors (water temperature, water hardness and pipe material) affect the survivability of E.
coli O157 in potable water systems.
Regarding pipework material selection copper has a significant antibacterial advantage over both polybutylene and stainless steel.
Copper demonstrated an antibacterial advantage over polybutylene for every temperature range and water hardness condition studied.
In all water conditions copper demonstrated either stronger or equivalent antibacterial properties compared to stainless steel.
Dr W Keevil (CAMR) said: "Our experiments indicate that when used with cool soft drinking water resources, copper water piping systems have the potential to reduce the risk of human infection from E.
coli O157 bacteria." The concentration of toxic E.
coli O157 was 100 times lower on copper substrates than on stainless steel and polybutylene.
The study also found that copper has strong anti-biofouling characteristics, i.e inhibiting the deposition of bacteria, in cool soft waters.
However, biofouling was very significant on both polybutylene and stainless steel.
Keevil commented: "Biofilms are harbingers of E.
coli O157 and other microbial pathogens and they pose a significant risk to human health." After seven days submersion in soft cool water little biofilm was detected on the copper substrates whilst nearly 80% of stainless steel and 90% of polybutylene substrates were covered with biofilms.
For moderately hard potable waters copper imparts very strong anti-biofouling advantages over polybutylene at 10oC, 20oC and 40oC.
For hard potable waters piping materials play a lesser role in preventing biofouling.
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