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MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA INHABITING A WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM SIMULATOR
Citation:
Santo Domingo*, J W., M C. Meckes*, J M. Simpson*, B. L. Sloss, AND D J. Reasoner*. MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA INHABITING A WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM SIMULATOR. Presented at Biofilm Monitoring Meeting, Porto, Portugal, 3/18-20/2002.
Description:
The impact of chlorination and chloramination treatments on heterotrophic bacteria (HB) and ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) inhabiting a water distribution system simulator was investigated. Notable changes in bacterial densities were observed during this monitoring study. For example, H densities decreased while AOB densities increasded when chloramines were added. AOB densities decreased below detection limits after the disinfection treatment was switched back to chlorination. The presence of AOB was confirmed using an AOB-specific 16S rDNA-PCR method. Sequence analysis of the 16S rDNA of culturable bacteria showed that most isolates from feed water, discharge water, and biofilm samples were a Proteobacteria or B proteobacteria. The relative frequency of each bacterial group was different for each sample examined. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of total community 16S rDNA genes also showed notable differences between the microbial community structure of biofilm samples and feed water. The results of this study suggest that disinfection treatments cold influence the type of bacterial community inhabiting water distribution systems.