Biofouling

Definition

The buildup of microbial life on water-system surfaces when bacteria are given warmth, stillness, and nutrients.

Bacteria that survive treatment settle onto surfaces over a few quiet days, build shelter, and turn an ordinary water system into a reservoir for life that can put people in the hospital. The hydrogen-bond network enables this by handing microbes the nutrients and warmth they need to colonize. It is the third of the three core water-system failures alongside scale and corrosion.

Related concepts

Hydrogen-Bond Network · Corrosion · Scale

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🦠 biology