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Metagenomic Profile of Microbial Communities in a Drinking Water Storage Tank Sediment after Sequential Exposure to Monochloramine, Free Chlorine, and Monochloramine
Citation:
Gomez-Alvarez, V., H. Liu, J. Pressman, AND D. Wahman. Metagenomic Profile of Microbial Communities in a Drinking Water Storage Tank Sediment after Sequential Exposure to Monochloramine, Free Chlorine, and Monochloramine. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1(5):1283-1294, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.1c00016
Impact/Purpose:
Finished water storage facilities (FWSFs) are tanks, reservoirs, or other facilities in a drinking water distribution system (DWDS) used to store water that will undergo no further treatment to reduce microbial pathogens, except maintenance of a residual disinfectant. FWSFs meet peak demand, provide emergency storage (including for fire protection), and maintain distribution system pressure, but FWSFs are vulnerable to biological contamination (i.e., microbial colonization) from animals, air, and influent water. Consequently, FWSFs are a potential source of waterborne illnesses from opportunistic pathogens. Public health data has implicated FWSFs in waterborne disease outbreaks (e.g., Legionnaires and Salmonellosis) across the United States.A next generation sequencing approach using sophisticated molecular tools was used to assess the microbial composition in communities present in drinking water sediments.
Description:
Sediment accumulation in drinking water storage facilities may lead to water quality degradation, including biological growth and disinfectant decay. The current research evaluated the microbial community present in a sediment after sequential exposure to monochloramine, free chlorine, and monochloramine. Chemical profiles within the sediment based on microelectrodes showed evidence of nitrification, and monochloramine slowly penetrated the sediment but was not measurable at lower depths. A metagenomic approach was used to characterize the microbial communities and functional potential of top (0-1 cm) and bottom (1-2 cm) sections in sediment cores. Differential abundance analysis revealed both an enrichment and depletion associated with depth of microbial populations where Mycobacterium and Nitrospira (nitrifiers) overrepresented in top sections. Most metabolic functions were similarly represented in both sections, suggesting the capability of the microbiomes to respond to environmental fluctuations. However, niche-specific abundance differences were identified in biotransformation processes (e.g., nitrogen). We assembled 30 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) representing bacterial and archaeal microorganisms with nine MAGs showing high-quality characteristics. Metagenome-level analyses indicated that nitrification and denitrification can potentially occur simultaneously in the sediments. Even though monochloramine was maintained in the bulk water there was limited penetration into the sediment, and the microbial community remained functionally diverse and active.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Metagenomic Profile of Microbial Communities in a Drinking Water Storage Tank Sediment after Sequential Exposure to Monochloramine, Free Chlorine, and Monochloramine
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