379 Into the Unknown: The Link Between Biofilm and Legionella

Welcome back, Scaling UP! Nation. Have you ever wondered about the hidden dangers of biofilm lurking in your water systems? In our latest Legionella Awareness Month episode, we deep dive into the world of biofilm and its critical link to Legionella with our returning expert, Loraine Huchler, President of MarTech Systems. Packed with invaluable insights and practical advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in the water treatment industry. Don’t miss it!

Ever Wondered How Biofilm and Legionella are Connected?

"If you have no biofilm, your risk of Legionella is very low." - Loraine Huchler
Loraine Huchler provides an insightful explanation of the complex relationship between biofilm and Legionella interacting within cooling water systems.

Life Cycle of Legionella:
"Legionella is an aerobic bacteria, while the bacteria inside the biofilm might be anaerobic—they don't need oxygen to thrive. Some can even switch between oxygen-loving and anaerobic states. Legionella matures and seeks a higher life form to reproduce, essentially acting as a parasite within the biofilm."

Reproduction and Spread:
"In cooling water systems, especially comfort cooling systems that operate seasonally, Legionella can reproduce within the biofilm even when systems are idle. The biofilm's thickness increases due to the abundance of bacteria. When the system restarts, the force of the water shears off the top layer of the biofilm, dispersing bacteria throughout the entire chiller system."

Challenges in Bacteria Control:
Loraine emphasizes, "This scenario illustrates why it's so difficult to control bacteria in cooling water systems. The constant cycle of biofilm formation and disruption means bacteria, including Legionella, are continuously spread and difficult to manage."

Implications for Industrial Water Professionals:
Understanding this complex relationship is crucial for implementing effective water treatment strategies. Regular monitoring and proactive management of biofilm are essential to mitigate the risks associated with Legionella and maintain system efficiency.

How Do You Measure the Amount of Biofilm, and How Does This Measuring Technology Work?
"Adding a biofilm sensor will give real-time early detection of biofilm and make precision dosing a reality for biocides which can kill Legionella." - Loraine Huchler

Exploring Biofilm Measurement Technologies:
Loraine Huchler delves into the intricacies of measuring biofilm, highlighting two key technologies: Electrochemical and Ultrasonic.

Ultrasonic Technology:
"The ultrasonic technology is novel and proprietary. Currently, only one water treatment company has developed it, and access to this online sensor is limited to their customers. This technology is the only sensor that measures biofilm in an online system. It includes a test chamber with a heated surface and a precisely controlled water flow that matches your most vulnerable heat exchanger. Using ultrasonic technology, it determines the biofilm thickness."

Applications and Considerations:
Loraine poses an intriguing question: "If you know the biofilm thickness, you could calculate the heat transfer loss in your heat exchangers, potential production loss in a process plant, or increased electrical demand in a chiller plant. However, managing biofilm effectively only requires knowing its presence so you can react. The ultrasonic technology, while sophisticated, is more complicated, expensive, and challenging to use compared to electrochemical sensors."

Electrochemical Sensors:
"The electrochemical sensors don't require a test chamber, allowing them to be placed in various locations to monitor biofilm. For example, you might choose a sump, a quiet area where the biofilm may not be mobile and may not respond to water treatment dosing."

Mechanism and Sensitivity:
Loraine explains the mechanism behind biofilm formation: "Quorum sensing is the process where bacteria hover above a surface and assess it before settling. The electrochemical device triggers a signal the moment bacteria sit on the surface, providing an extremely sensitive early warning of biofilm formation."

Practical Implications for Water Professionals:
Understanding where to place these sensors and how they work is crucial for effective biofilm management. Loraine emphasizes, "This economical and insightful method helps you understand biofilm risks in your cooling water systems, even though I've never seen one in service. It's essential to explore these technologies to monitor biofilm and mitigate its impact on your systems."

Actionable Steps for the Scaling UP! Nation.

1. Increase Awareness: Understanding the importance of biofilm can help in mitigating Legionella risks.
2. Leverage Technology: Utilize biofilm sensors for early detection and effective treatment.
3. Optimize Efficiency: Regular monitoring and maintenance can prevent biofilm buildup, ensuring optimal system performance.

Timestamps
00:30 - Trace Blackmore welcomes you to Legionella Awareness Month
02:40 - Interview with Loraine Huchler about the connection between biofilm and Legionella
37:30 -  Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals
39:50 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald 

Quotes
”Adding a biofilm sensor because the goal is to kill Legionella will give real-time early detection of biofilm and make precision dosing a reality for biocides.” - Loraine Huchler
“You can connect biofilm to Legionella. If you have no biofilm, your risk of Legionella is very low.” - Loraine Huchler 

Connect with Loraine Huchler
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.martechsystems.com
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/loraine-huchler/
Technical paper: Eliminate Biofilm to Increase Energy in Efficiency in Water Systems 

Read or Download Loraine Huchler’s Press Release HERE

Links Mentioned
All links mentioned on this episode can be found on  our Legionella Resources page HERE
The Rising Tide Mastermind
Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses
Ep 346 Revolutionizing Legionella Management: A 2024 Kickoff Special

Drop By Drop with James
In today’s episode, we’re thinking about something?  What are we thinking about, you ask?  We’re thinking about the impacts of writing “Everything looks good” on your field service reports when in reality, everything doesn’t look good.  Does this give the recipient of your report a false sense of security?  Does this help them truly manage their water systems?  What about when something catastrophic happens, but your report showed “everything looks good” time after time after time?  Does it count if you verbally told the end user the true condition of the system but wrote “everything looks good” on the report to make them look good to their managers?  When it comes to monetary damages and legal action, which would hold up to scrutiny?  As I’ve always been told, if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen.  Think about that when writing your next field service report. 

2024 Events for Water Professionals

Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we’ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.