Application of Flow Cytometry for Slow Sand Filters

Abstract: This project investigated the bacteria in water entering and leaving the slow sand filters at Ringsjö Water Works using flow cytometry. The purpose was to explore the possibility of utilising flow cytometry as a monitoring method for optimising water production using slow sand filters. Data describing the bacterial community in water was collected over seven weeks and analysed with FlowJo, flow cytometric image comparison and Minitab. The total cell count, intact cell count and the percentage of high nucleic acid bacteria were analysed. These parameters were highly dependent on scraping events, water entering the filters and season. The results indicated that flow cytometry has great potential for use as a monitoring method, although more data should be collected to establish expected trends and secure baseline values for routine comparisons.