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Liu S, Xia S, Zhang X, Cai X, Yang J, Hu Y, Zhou S, Wang H. Microbial communities exhibit distinct diversities and assembly mechanisms in rainwater and tap-water storage systems. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 253:121305. [PMID: 38367380 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Roof-harvested rainwater stored for potable and nonpotable usages represent a clean and sustainable water supply resource. However, the microbial dynamics and mechanisms of community assembly in long-termed operated rainwater storage systems remain elusive. In this study, characteristics of microbial communities in different habitats were systematically compared within rainwater and tap-water simulated storage systems (SWSSs) constructed with different tank materials (PVC, stainless steel and cement). Distinct microbial communities were observed between rainwater and tap-water SWSSs for both water and biofilm samples (ANOSIM, p < 0.05), with lower diversity indexes noted in rainwater samples. Notably, a divergent potential pathogen profile was observed between rainwater and tap-water SWSSs, with higher relative abundances of potential pathogens noted in rainwater SWSSs. Moreover, tank materials had a notable impact on microbial communities in rainwater SWSSs (ANOSIM, p < 0.05), rather than tap-water SWSSs, illustrating the distinct interplay between water chemistry and engineering factors in shaping the SWSS microbiomes. Deterministic processes contributed predominantly to the microbial community assembly in cement rainwater SWSSs and all tap-water SWSSs, which might be ascribed to the high pH levels in cement rainwater SWSSs and low-nutrient levels in all tap-water SWSSs, respectively. However, microbial communities in the PVC and stainless-steel rainwater SWSSs were mainly driven by stochastic processes. Overall, the results provided insights to the distinct microbial assembly mechanisms and potential health risks in stored roof-harvested rainwater, highlighting the importance of developing tailored microbial management strategies for the storage and utilization of rainwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sihang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Siqing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xucheng Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jinhao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yuxing Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shuang Zhou
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Hong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Carpio-Vallejo E, Düker U, Waldowski J, Nogueira R. Contribution of rooftop rainwater harvesting to climate adaptation in the city of Hannover: Water quality and health issues of rainwater storage in cisterns and ponds. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 256:114320. [PMID: 38184969 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems and blue-green infrastructure are becoming important resilience alternatives for urban climate adaptation. This study sheds light on the largely unreported physicochemical and microbiological quality of private roof-harvested rainwater (RHRW). We aimed to identify the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of RHRW, explore potential correlations between them and assess probable health risks associated with recreational interactions of children with the water. RHRW was collected from cisterns and ponds located in an inner courtyard in Hanover, Germany. Physicochemical parameters were measured on site and samples were collected once a month in two campaigns in 2020 and 2021. Escherichia coli concentrations ranged from 1 × 10° to 24.1 × 102 MPN/100 mL, Enterococci from 1 × 10° to 19.7 × 102 MPN/100 mL, Salmonella from 1 × 102 to 39 × 103 CFU/100 mL and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from 1 × 10° to 3 × 103 MPN/100 mL. Correlation analysis indicated potential relationships between bacteria, oxygen, and water temperature. The results of the health risk assessment indicated a potential risk of gastrointestinal illnesses due to exposure to Enterococci and Salmonella spp. present in the cisterns and ponds, highlighting the need for appropriate regulations and guidelines for RHRW aimed for non-potable uses. Blue-green infrastructure, when effectively managed and maintained, can offer benefits both by enhancing urban climate resilience and promoting citizens well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Urda Düker
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jessica Waldowski
- Grundstücksentwässerung, Stadtentwässerung Hannover, Sorststraße 16, 30165, Hannover, Germany
| | - Regina Nogueira
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167, Hannover, Germany.
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3
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Cai X, Hu Y, Zhou S, Meng D, Xia S, Wang H. Unraveling bacterial and eukaryotic communities in secondary water supply systems: Dynamics, assembly, and health implications. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 245:120597. [PMID: 37713796 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Secondary water supply systems (SWSSs) are crucial water supply infrastructures for high-rise buildings in metropolitan cities. In recent years, they have garnered public attention due to increased microbial risks. However, our understanding of SWSS microbial ecology, particularly concerning the composition of eukaryotes and the underlying mechanisms driving microbial dynamics and assembly in SWSSs, remains elusive. Herein, we conducted a comprehensive investigation on both eukaryotes and bacteria along the water transportation pathway and across various microbial habitats (water, biofilm, and sediment) in SWSSs. Sequencing results revealed that eukaryotes within SWSSs predominantly consist of protists (average abundance: 31.23%) and metazoans (20.91%), while amoebae accounted for 4.71% of the total. During water transportation from the distribution mains to taps, both bacterial and eukaryotic communities exhibited significant community shifts, and higher degrees of variation were observed for eukaryotic community among different locations within SWSSs. The normalized stochasticity ratio (NST) analysis demonstrated that bacterial community assembly was governed by stochastic processes, while eukaryotic community assembly was primarily shaped by deterministic processes. Within SWSS tanks, bacterial communities significantly varied across water, biofilm, and sediment, whereas eukaryotic communities showed minor differences among these habitats. The co-occurrence networks analysis revealed that tank biofilm and sediment harbored more eukaryote-bacterium linkages than water, suggesting biofilm and sediment might be hotspots for inter-kingdom interactions. We also applied FEAST analysis to track the source of tap water microbiota, results of which showed that household-tap bacteria mainly originated from tank water. In contrast, tank biofilm was identified as the primary microbial source to eukaryotes in household tap water. Additionally, engineering factors such as tank materials significantly affected amoeba community, and the SWSS configuration was found to influence Legionella and Mycobacterium abundances in SWSSs. Overall, results of our study shed light on the microbial ecology in SWSS and provide insights into SWSS management and health risk control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xucheng Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Water Supply, Water Saving and Water Environment Governance in the Yangtze River Delta of Ministry of Water Resources, China
| | - Yuxing Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Water Supply, Water Saving and Water Environment Governance in the Yangtze River Delta of Ministry of Water Resources, China
| | - Shuang Zhou
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Die Meng
- Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Siqing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Water Supply, Water Saving and Water Environment Governance in the Yangtze River Delta of Ministry of Water Resources, China
| | - Hong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Water Supply, Water Saving and Water Environment Governance in the Yangtze River Delta of Ministry of Water Resources, China.
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4
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Hu D, Zeng J, Chen J, Lin W, Xiao X, Feng M, Yu X. Microbiological quality of roof tank water in an urban village in southeastern China. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 125:148-159. [PMID: 36375901 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Urban villages are unique residential neighborhoods in urban areas in China. Roof tanks are their main form of water supply, and water quality deterioration might occur in this system because of poor hygienic conditions and maintenance. In this study, water samples were seasonally collected from an urban village to investigate the influence of roof tanks as an additional water storage device on the variation in the microbial community structure and pathogenic gene markers. Water stagnation in the roof tank induced significant decreases in chlorine (p < 0.05), residual chlorine was as low as 0.02 mg/L in spring. Propidium monoazide (PMA)-qPCR revealed a one-magnitude higher level of total viable bacterial concentration in roof tank water samples (2.14 ± 1.81 × 105 gene copies/mL) than that in input water samples (3.57 ± 2.90 × 104 gene copies/mL, p < 0.05), especially in spring and summer. In addition, pathogenic fungi, Mycobacterium spp., and Legionella spp. were frequently detected in the roof tanks. Terminal users might be exposed to higher microbial risk induced by high abundance of Legionella gene marker. Spearman's rank correlation and redundancy analysis showed that residual chlorine was the driving force that promoted bacterial colonization and shaped the microbial community. It is worth noted that the sediment in the pipe will be agitated when the water supply is restored after the water outages, which can trigger an increase in turbidity and bacterial biomass. Overall, the findings provide practical suggestions for controlling microbiological health risks in roof tanks in urban villages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Hu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jie Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Shitang Community Health Service Center, Xiamen 361026, China
| | - Wenfang Lin
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Xinyan Xiao
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Mingbao Feng
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xin Yu
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
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5
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Gregson BH, Bani A, Steinfield L, Holt D, Whitby C. Anaerobes and methanogens dominate the microbial communities in water harvesting ponds used by Kenyan rural smallholder farmers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 819:153040. [PMID: 35026246 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Many rural smallholder farmers in Kenya use water-harvesting ponds, to collect rainwater, as sustainable sources of water for domestic and agricultural purposes. There is currently limited information regarding the microbial ecology in these ponds. Here, we used High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) to characterize the microorganisms present (including potential pathogens and indicator species) alongside ion chromatography to measure water chemistry (anion and cation concentration). Fluoride and magnesium concentration were the strongest predictor variables of the microbial community. Obligately or facultatively anaerobic bacterial genera (e.g. Spirochaeta and Opitutus) were abundant within the bacterial community, whilst Woesearchaeota and methanogens dominated the archaeal community. This suggests the water in the ponds is hypoxic or anoxic, and if used for irrigation, may potentially impact crop yield and viability. In addition, the opportunistic pathogen non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), Mycobacterium fortuitum was found, comprising >1% of the bacterial community, suggesting a potential human health risk. Here we suggest low-cost changes to pond management, to improve or ameliorate pond anoxia and remove pathogens to benefit the livelihoods and welfare of these farms. This study also shows the applicability of HTS to broadly screen the microbial communities, assess water quality, and identify potentially pathogenic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H Gregson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Alessia Bani
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | | | - Diane Holt
- Center for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, Leeds University Business School, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Corinne Whitby
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK.
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6
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Han Z, Lu J, An W, Zhang Y, Yang M. Removal efficacy of opportunistic pathogen gene markers in drinking water supply systems: an in situ and large-scale molecular investigation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:54153-54160. [PMID: 34389952 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15744-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence and interactions with biofilm and disinfectant of opportunistic pathogens in drinking water supply systems (DWSSs) have been extensively interpreted. In contrast, the large geographical distribution and in situ removal of opportunistic pathogens are overlooked aspects. Here, paired source and tap water samples of 36 parallel DWSSs across China were collected, with five common waterborne pathogens characterized by qPCR. From source to tap, the removal of bacterial biomass (16S rRNA gene copy number) was 1.10 log, and gene marker removal of five opportunistic pathogens ranged from 0.66 log to 2.27 log, with the order of Escherichia coli > Mycobacterium spp. > Clostridium perfringens > Bacillus cereus > Aeromonas hydrophila. Different with bacterial community, geographical location and source water types (river or reservoir) were not key contributor to variation of opportunistic pathogens. Gene marker removal efficacies of E. coli, Mycobacterium spp., and C. perfringens from source to tap were restricted to removal efficacy of overall bacterial biomass, while abundance of B. cereus in tap water linked to the input of B. cereus from source water. Although culture-dependent approach is important for pathogen enumeration in drinking water, qPCR-based molecular survey shows advantages of quantifiable high-throughput and easy operation, providing abundant and timely information on pathogen occurrence in water. This study provides the in situ, molecular-level evidence toward differential propagation features of multiple opportunistic pathogens in DWSSs and suggests the source protection and early warning of treatment-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziming Han
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Junying Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Wei An
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Min Yang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
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Zhang X, Xia S, Ye Y, Wang H. Opportunistic pathogens exhibit distinct growth dynamics in rainwater and tap water storage systems. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 204:117581. [PMID: 34461496 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Opportunistic pathogens (OPs) are emerging microbial contaminants in engineered water systems, yet their growth potential in rainwater systems has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare the growth dynamics of bacterial OPs and related genera (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella spp., L. pneumophila, Mycobacterium spp., and M. avium), two amoebal hosts (Acanthamoeba spp. and Vermamoeba vermiformis), and the fecal indicator Escherichia coli in simulated rainwater and tap water storage systems (SWSSs). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) analysis of target microorganisms in SWSS influents and effluents demonstrated that P. aeruginosa and Legionella thrived in rainwater, but not in tap water. V. vermiformis proliferated in both rainwater and tap water polyvinyl chloride (PVC) SWSSs, while mycobacteria were largely absent in rainwater SWSSs. Tank materials exerted stronger influence on target microorganisms in rainwater SWSSs relative to tap water SWSSs, with species-specific responses noted in bulk water and biofilm. For instance, P. aeruginosa and V. vermiformis had the highest gene copy numbers in PVC rainwater SWSS effluents and biofilm, while Legionella peaked in stainless steel rainwater SWSS effluents and PVC rainwater SWSS biofilm. These results highlighted the OP contamination risks in rainwater storage systems and provided insights into rainwater system design and operation in terms of OP control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Chengtou Water Group Corporation, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Siqing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Yinyin Ye
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA
| | - Hong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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8
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Kusumawardhana A, Zlatanovic L, Bosch A, van der Hoek JP. Microbiological Health Risk Assessment of Water Conservation Strategies: A Case Study in Amsterdam. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:2595. [PMID: 33807661 PMCID: PMC7967349 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the health risks that may arise from the implementation of greywater reuse and rainwater harvesting for household use, especially for toilet flushing. In addition, the risk of cross connections between these systems and the drinking water system was considered. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is a method that uses mathematical modelling to estimate the risk of infection when exposure to pathogens happens and was used in this study to assess the health risks. The results showed that using rainwater without prior treatment for toilet flushing poses an annual infection risk from L. pneumophila at 0.64 per-person-per-year (pppy) which exceeds the Dutch standard of 10-4 pppy. The use of untreated greywater showed a risk that is below the standard. However, treatment is recommended due to the ability of P. aeruginosa to grow in the reuse system. Moreover, showering and drinking with cross-connected water has a high annual infection risk that exceeds the standard due to contact with Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli O157:H7. Several measures can be implemented to mitigate the risks such as treating the greywater and rainwater with a minimum of 5-log removal, closing the toilet lid while flushing, good design of greywater and rainwater collection systems, and rigorous plumbing installation procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agung Kusumawardhana
- Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5, 2600 AA Delft, The Netherlands; (A.K.); (L.Z.)
| | - Ljiljana Zlatanovic
- Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5, 2600 AA Delft, The Netherlands; (A.K.); (L.Z.)
- Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions, Kattenburgerstraat 5, 1018 JA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Water Supply Company Noord-Holland PWN, Rijksweg 501, 1991 AS Velserbroek, The Netherlands
| | - Arne Bosch
- Waternet, P.O. Box 94370, 1090 GJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Jan Peter van der Hoek
- Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5, 2600 AA Delft, The Netherlands; (A.K.); (L.Z.)
- Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions, Kattenburgerstraat 5, 1018 JA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Waternet, P.O. Box 94370, 1090 GJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
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9
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Rui M, Chen H, Ye Y, Deng H, Wang H. Effect of Flow Configuration on Nitrifiers in Biological Activated Carbon Filters for Potable Water Production. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:14646-14655. [PMID: 33118354 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Up-flow biological activated carbon (BAC) filters have been empirically employed in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) to address the challenges of its down-flow counterparts (e.g., high head loss and insufficient use of BAC beds), yet their performances and mechanisms toward ammonia removal are not fully evaluated. This study characterized the occurrence, distribution, and diversities of nitrifiers in up-flow and down-flow BAC filters by investigating 18 full-scale drinking water treatment trains in different geographic locations. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of gene markers of target microorganisms demonstrated higher numbers of total bacteria, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and Nitrospira in the up-flow filters relative to the down-flow filters (P < 0.05), implying enhanced biological activities and nitrification potential within up-flow filters. The dominance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) over AOB (i.e., 1.3-4.0 log10 gene copies higher) in 17 BAC filters illustrated the critical role of AOA in drinking water nitrification. Stratification of biomass was mainly found in the down-flow filters rather than the up-flow filters, suggesting better mixing of filter media across up-flow filter beds. Analysis of similarity results revealed that the AOA and Nitrospira community compositions were mainly affected by water sources and locations (P < 0.05) but not flow configurations. These results provide insight into nitrification mechanisms in BAC filters with different flow configurations in real-world DWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Rui
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Haoshen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yinyin Ye
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Huiping Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
| | - Hong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
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