对温哥华供水系统三年内生物膜生长的评估表明，0.4至0.5 mg/L范围内的游离氯浓度将是控制生物膜的有效消毒水平。然而，生物膜中的大肠菌群被认为是水柱中大肠菌群水平升高的结果，而不是原因。因此，去除生物膜可能不会改善水质。尽管有这一结论，生物膜监测计划仍有必要，并可通过简单且成本效益高的生物膜取样装置（沉淀袋）对沙基质中的大肠菌群进行计数来促进生物膜监测计划，该装置可替代传统水质取样计划和/或对配水系统中的生物膜性质进行调查；例如，评估消毒效果。本研究的最初目的是通过金属试片模拟管壁，从累积速率和总大肠菌群水平两方面评估氯化对生物膜的影响。 然而，随着研究的进展，显然需要一种更实用、更具成本效益的生物膜采样技术，因此探索了沉积物袋采样器的概念。

Assessment of biofilm growth in the Vancouver water distribution over a three year period indicated that concentrations of free chlorine in the range of 0.4 to 0.5 mg/L would be an effective level of disinfection for control of the biofilm. However, coliform bacteria in the biofilm were considered to be a result, not a cause, of elevated coliform levels in the water column. Therefore, biofilm removal may not result in any improvement in water quality. Notwithstanding this conclusion, biofilm monitoring programs may still be warranted and may be facilitated through the enumeration of coliforms in the sand substrate of a simple and cost-effective biofilm sampling device (sediment bag) which could provide an alternative to conventional water quality sampling programs and/or to investigations into the nature of biofilm in distribution systems; for example, to assess the effects of disinfection. The initial objective of this study was to assess the impact of chlorination on the biofilm both in terms of its rate of accumulation and levels of total coliforms using metal coupons to mimic the pipe walls. However, as the study progressed, it became evident that a more practical and cost-effective biofilm sampling technique was desirable, hence the concept of a sediment bag sampler was explored.