Microbes in The Water

The article I read is an informative piece that is talking about microbes in our water supply. I did not know anything about microbes in the water and I found this very interesting. The article starts off by telling its audience about the water and how it was good microbes that are not harmful to us. 

The pipes that hold the water eventually over time crate biofilms. These biofilms are helping the bad microbes attach themselves. Once the unhealthy microbes build up enough they break off and end up in our water supply. This is why sometimes your water is dis colored or tastes funny. Countries like the United Kingdom have figured out ways to test the water. The water testing has not turned out as great as they would like. 

When the water is tested they will decide if more chlorine needs to be put into the pipe lines or if in extreme cases flush out the whole system. This shuts down the whole system foe quite some time. "The way we currently maintain clean water supplies is a little like using antibiotics without knowing what infection we're treating," says Professor Biggs. "Although it's effective, it requires extensive use of chemicals or can put water supplies out of use to consumers for a period of time. Current testing methods also take time to produce results, while the bacteria are cultured from the samples taken. This quote shows us how amazing the process is but also how hard it is to keep up with. 

My questions would be 1) would they be a way to line the pipes with something the microbes can't hang on to. 2) how long does it take for the microbes to build up and break off because this would effect how much they have to clear the pipes. 3) how dangerous is the water that we. Drink that contains the bad microbes for us. 

University of Sheffield. "Bacteria commonly found in drinking water creates conditions which enable other -- potentially harmful -- bacteria to thrive." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 August 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130814124347.htm>.