Project properties
Title Understanding the nutritional conditions for the occurrence of water lice (Asellus) in drinking water distribution systems (Thesis/Internship)
Group Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group
Project type thesis
Credits 24-39
Supervisor(s) Nikki van Bel, KWR Watercycle Research Institute (nikki.van.bel@kwrwater.nl; 030-6069516)
Edwin Peeters (AEW-WUR)
Examiner(s) Edwin THM Peeters
Contact info Edwin Peeters, edwin.peeters@wur.nl
Begin date 2018/05/01
End date 2018/12/28
Description The microbiological quality of drinking water in our drinking water distribution systems depends on multiple factors, for example the temperature and the concentration of biodegradable organic carbon in the drinking water, defined as the biological stability. Growth of Aeromonas bacteria in the distribution system is an indication of the (micro)biological instability of the system. The presence and reproduction of water lice (Asellus aquaticus and Proasellus) and other larger invertebrates may play a part in this growth. Both Aeromonas and Asellus are correlated with sediments present in distribution systems. To gain more insight in the relationship between the biological stability of the drinking water and the occurrence of Asellus in the distribution system, we want to know under which nutritional conditions Asellus is able to grow and survive in the drinking water distribution systems.

In this project we therefore want to culture Asellus in the laboratory and test whether they can grow and survive under different nutritional conditions related to the situation in the Dutch drinking water distribution system. The effect of sediment harvested from different distribution systems on Asellus will be tested. In addition, several other substances that are suspected to be beneficial for growth and/or survival or that are suspected to be toxic for Asellus will be tested. Simultaneously additional experiments with Asellus will be performed by KWR. Typical activities are laboratory work such as operating batch and continuous experimental set ups, sampling and analyzing, data handling and interpretation. The student is expected to use both datasets for his/her research.

This project is a collaboration between three partners: the chair group AEW at the Wageningen University, the research institute of the Dutch drinking water companies KWR Watercycle Research Institute; and the drinking water company Evides. The student will mainly work in Wageningen, but also at KWR.
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