Microbial Ecology and Water Chemistry Impact Regrowth of Opportunistic Pathogens in Full-Scale Reclaimed Water Distribution Systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (16) ◽  
pp. 9056-9068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Garner ◽  
Jean McLain ◽  
Jolene Bowers ◽  
David M. Engelthaler ◽  
Marc A. Edwards ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 1615-1626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ni Zhu ◽  
Kris Mapili ◽  
Haniyyah Majeed ◽  
Amy Pruden ◽  
Marc A. Edwards

Unique water chemistry and operational conditions of reclaimed water distribution systems facilitated accumulation of sediment which resulted in depletion of disinfectants and microbial regrowth.


2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Deines ◽  
R. Sekar ◽  
H. S. Jensen ◽  
S. Tait ◽  
J. B. Boxall ◽  
...  

Abstract. Microbiology in Urban Water Systems (MUWS) is an integrated project, which aims to characterize the microorganisms found in both potable water distribution systems and sewer networks. These large infrastructure systems have a major impact on our quality of life, and despite the importance of these systems as major components of the water cycle, little is known about their microbial ecology. Potable water distribution systems and sewer networks are both large, highly interconnected, dynamic, subject to time and varying inputs and demands, and difficult to control. Their performance also faces increasing loading due to increasing urbanization and longer-term environmental changes. Therefore, understanding the link between microbial ecology and any potential impacts on short or long-term engineering performance within urban water infrastructure systems is important. By combining the strengths and research expertise of civil-, biochemical engineers and molecular microbial ecologists, we ultimately aim to link microbial community abundance, diversity and function to physical and engineering variables so that novel insights into the performance and management of both water distribution systems and sewer networks can be explored. By presenting the details and principals behind the molecular microbiological techniques that we use, this paper demonstrates the potential of an integrated approach to better understand how urban water system function, and so meet future challenges.


2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-64
Author(s):  
P. Deines ◽  
R. Sekar ◽  
H. S. Jensen ◽  
S. Tait ◽  
J. B. Boxall ◽  
...  

Abstract. Microbiology in Urban Water Systems (MUWS) is an integrated project, which aims to characterize the microorganisms found in both potable water distribution systems and sewer networks. These large infrastructure systems have a major impact on our quality of life, and despite the importance of these systems as major components of the water cycle, little is known about their microbial ecology. Potable water distribution systems are large, highly interconnected and dynamic, and difficult to control. Sewer systems are also large and subject to time varying inputs and demands. Their performance also faces increasing loading due to increasing urbanization and longer-term environmental changes. Therefore, understanding the link between microbial ecology and any potential impacts on short or long-term engineering performance is important. By combining the strengths and research expertise of civil-, biochemical engineers and molecular microbial ecologists, we aim to link the abundance and diversity of microorganisms to physical and engineering variables so that novel insights into the ecology of microorganisms within both water distribution systems and sewer networks can be explored. By presenting the details of this multidisciplinary approach, and the principals behind the molecular microbiological methods and techniques that we use, this paper will demonstrate the potential of an integrated approach to better understand urban water system function and so meet future challenges.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3477
Author(s):  
Changzhi Wang ◽  
Pei-Ying Hong

Water reuse is increasingly pursued to alleviate global water scarcity. However, the wastewater treatment process does not achieve full removal of biological contaminants from wastewater, hence microorganisms and their genetic elements can be disseminated into the reclaimed water distribution systems (RWDS). In this study, reclaimed water samples are investigated via metagenomics to assess their bacterial diversity, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) at both point of entry (POE) and point of use (POU) in 3 RWDS. The number of shared bacterial orders identified by metagenome was higher at the POE than POU among the three sites, indicating that specific conditions in RWDS can cause further differentiation in the microbial communities at the end of the distribution system. Two bacterial orders, namely Rhizobiales and Sphingomonadales, had high replication rates in two of the examined RWDS (i.e., site A and B), and were present in higher relative abundance in POU than at POE. In addition, MAG and ARG relative abundance exhibited a strong correlation (R2 = 0.58) in POU, indicating that bacteria present in POU may have a high incidence of ARG. Specifically, resistance genes associated with efflux pump mechanisms (e.g., adeF and qacH) increased in its relative abundance from POU to POE at two of the RWDS (i.e., site A and B). When correlated with the water quality data that suggests a significantly lower dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration at site D than the other two RWDS, the metagenomic data suggest that low DOC is needed to maintain the biological stability of reclaimed water along the distribution network.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-371
Author(s):  
Shun Li ◽  
Fu Sun ◽  
Siyu Zeng ◽  
Xin Dong ◽  
Pengfei Du

With the rapid development of a centralized wastewater reuse scheme in China, water quality concerns arise considering the long-distance transport of reclaimed water in distribution systems from wastewater treatment plants to points of use. To this end, a multi-species water quality model for reclaimed water distribution systems (RWDSs) was developed and validated against the data from part of a full-scale RWDS in Beijing. The model could simulate organics, ammonia nitrogen, residual chlorine, inert particles, and six microbial species, i.e. fecal coliforms, Enterococcus spp., Salmonella spp., Mycobacterium spp., and other heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria, in both the bulk liquid and the biofilm. Altogether, 56 reaction processes were involved, and 37 model parameters and seven initial values were identified. Despite the limited monitoring data and the associated gross uncertainty, the model could simulate the reclaimed water quality in the RWDS with acceptable accuracy. Regional sensitivity analysis suggested that the model had a balanced structure with a large proportion of sensitive parameters, and the sensitivity of model parameters could be reasonably interpreted by current knowledge or observation. Furthermore, the most sensitive model parameters could generally be well identified with uncertainties significantly reduced, which also favored the trustworthiness of the model. Finally, future plans to improve and apply the model were also discussed.


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