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Bacterial Composition in a Metropolitan Drinking Water Distribution System Utilizing Different Source Waters
Citation:
Gomez-Alvarez, V., B. Humrighouse, R. Revetta, AND J. Santodomingo. Bacterial Composition in a Metropolitan Drinking Water Distribution System Utilizing Different Source Waters. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH. IWA Publishing, London, Uk, 13(1):140-151, (2015).
Impact/Purpose:
This study provides much needed information regarding bacterial community diversity influenced by different raw water sources and different water treatment technologies. It also provides a window into the bacterial diversity at different points within the distribution systems.
Description:
The microbial community structure was investigated from bulk phase water samples of multiple collection sites from two service areas within the Cincinnati drinking water distribution system (DWDS). Each area is associated with a different primary source of water (i.e., groundwater, GW and surface water, SW) and undergoes different treatment processes in separate facilities. Community analysis based on 16S rRNA gene clone libraries indicated that Actinobacteria (Mycobacterium spp.) and α-Proteobacteria represented nearly 43% and 38% of the total clones examined, respectively. Sequences closely matching members of the genera Legionella, Pseudomonas, and Vibrio were also identified in both areas. In spite of the high number of sequences (71%) shared in both areas, multivariable analysis revealed significant community differences between the GW and SW service areas. While statistical analysis indicated no significant contribution by the dominant phylotypes in the ordination of samples, the populations associated with the core of phylotypes representing 10% to 1% of their respective communities significantly contributed to the differences between both service areas. Diversity indices indicate that the microbial community inhabiting the SW area is more diverse and contains more distantly related species coexisting with local assemblages as compared with the GW area. In this study, the bacterial community structure of SW and GW service areas were dissimilar, suggesting that their respective source water and/or water quality parameters shaped by the treatment processes may contribute to the differences in community structure observed.
