Book excerpt: This brand new manual was written because of the increased use of chloramine as a residual disinfectant in drinking water distribution systems and the ubiquitous presence of nitrifying bacteria in the environment. Chapters cover background information on the occurrence and microbiology of nitrification in various water environments and provide current practical approaches to nitrification prevention and response. This manual provides a compendium of the current state-of-the-art knowledge, however with quickly developing new advances in nitrification, more writings will be forthcoming. Each chapter can be read independently.