Evaluation of the ATP Bioluminescence Assay as a Real-Time Monitoring Tool for Surface Water Monitoring and Disinfection Performance

This paper reviewed current and emerging real-time monitoring technologies and evaluated the ATP bioluminescence assay for surface water monitoring and as a wastewater disinfection performance tool. The ATP assay measures light produced from the reaction between ATP and luciferin in presence of luciferase to quantify viable microbial cells.;Parallel membrane filtrations and ATP assays of simulated wastewater before and after chlorination and UV irradiation with low pressure lamps were performed. The assay was not able to detect UV-induced cell damage but was able to detect chlorine-induced cell damage. With further improvements the ATP assay can potentially be used for surface water and wastewater disinfection monitoring.;Initial sensitivity limits of 105 CFU/mL were improved to 102 CFU/mL by increasing sample volumes. The assay was found to be suitable for use with surface water. Increasing turbidity from 2.56 +/- 0.1 NTU to 32.43 +/- 0.55 NTU did not interfere with results.