Effect of Microbial Contamination in POU Filters (2016)

Undergraduate: Madeleine Valier

Faculty Advisor: Kelsey Pieper
Department: Undecided

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Lead in drinking water is of growing concern in the United States, in particular with the recent occurrence of childhood lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan. Point-of-use filters are a viable remediation method for lead removal, but there is concern related to potential microbial contamination from using these activated carbon filters. The effects from point-of-use filters as a treatment mechanism for private water systems is largely understudied and further research is needed as more than 15 million households in the United States are reliant on private water systems. These systems are not regulated at the federal level, and studies report high incidence rates of bacterial contamination. Therefore, the water quality of private water systems in the United States continues to be a major public health issue. Examinations of relevant literature concerning microbial contamination from lead removal point-of-use filters are needed in order to better understand the mechanisms of these filters. Potential factors that may affect microbial contamination in point-of-use filters includes but is not limited to biofilm formation, pH levels, and particulate matter. These potential factors have been evaluated to provide insight into the efficacy of point-of-use lead filters and recommendations for point-of-use implementation in private water systems.