Incrustations in Water Pipes as Affected by Filamentous Iron Bacteria

Incrustations and other biological growths in water mains and distribution pipes cause considerable difficulties in water engineering. The control of such obstructions in the pipes, in most cases, largely depends upon the character and composition of the water and the nature of the pipe material. A few years ago some studies were carried out at Bangalore on the tubercular incrustations in water pipes and the importance of the newly discovered species of Pseudomonas occurring in the ferruginous tubercles was indicated (Pillai, 1935, 1938). The observations on this bacillus also lent some support to the view expressed by Ellis (1919) in his monograph on ' iron bacteria ' that in considering the affinities of the iron bacteria ' we