Relationship among turbidity, particle counts and bacteriological quality within water distribution lines

The turbidity standard for water quality was evaluated in relation to total particle counts, heterotrophic plate counts and epifluorescence direct cell counts of three different municipal drinking-waters. Turbidity and particle counts were directly proportional. There was no predictable relationship between bacteriological quality and turbidity or particle counts. Heterotrophic plate counts under-estimated epifluorescence direct cell counts by a factor of at least 500. Water quality degradation occurred in municipal drinking-water systems because of intermittent short duration events that resulted in high turbidity, particle counts and heterotrophic plate counts. Further, for all parameters measured variability increased with distance traveled within a pipe except for ground water.