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Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria in Biofilters Removing Trihalomethanes Are Related to Nitrosomonas oligotropha
Citation:
WAHMAN, D. G., M. Kirisits, L. E. Katz, AND G. E. Speitel, Jr. Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria in Biofilters Removing Trihalomethanes Are Related to Nitrosomonas oligotropha. APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC, 77(7):2537-2540, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Nitrifying biofilters degrading the four regulated trihalomethanes (THMs) trichloromethane (TCM), bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), and tribromomethane (TBM) -were analyzed for the presence and activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Biofilter performance and batch kinetic tests performed on biofilm removed during backwashing verified that the biofilters contained organisms capable of degrading the four regulated THMs commonly found in treated drinking water. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and amoA sequence analysis provided evidence that the Nitrosomonas oligotropha was the only AOB present. N. oligotropha is typically associated with drinking water distribution system AOB communities, and their presence in these biofilters might indicate that their tolerance to THMs is another reason for their dominance in chloraminated drinking water systems.
