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Profiling bacterial survival through a water treatment process and subsequent distribution system
D Hoefel1, P T Monis, W L Grooby
1The Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment, Australian Water Quality Centre, SA Water Corporation, Bolivar, SA, Australia.
Journal of Applied Microbiology
|June 18, 2005
Summary
Water treatment significantly reduces active bacteria and diversity. However, some active bacteria like Stenotrophomonas maltophila and Burkholderia remain undetected by traditional methods, impacting water quality monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
- Water Treatment Technology
Background:
- Routine heterotrophic plate count (HPC) methods may not detect all active bacteria in water.
- Understanding bacterial profiles during water treatment is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To profile active bacteria and HPC-culturable bacteria throughout water treatment and distribution.
- To assess the impact of water treatment on bacterial abundance and diversity.
- To identify active bacteria missed by traditional HPC methods.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometric cell sorting (BacLight kit, CFDA assay) to isolate active bacteria.
- Eubacterial 16S rDNA-directed PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) for bacterial identification.
- Comparison of active bacterial fractions with HPC-culturable bacteria.
Main Results:
- Water treatment reduced active bacterial numbers (BacLight: 2.89 log, CFDA: 2.81 log).
- Bacterial diversity decreased significantly post-treatment (>20 DGGE bands to 2 bands).
- Stenotrophomonas maltophila and a Burkholderia-related species were active post-treatment but undetected by HPC.
Conclusions:
- Flow cytometry coupled with PCR-DGGE effectively identifies active bacteria missed by HPC.
- S. maltophila and Burkholderia species remained active in distribution systems, undetected by HPC.
- This method enhances water treatment efficacy monitoring and distribution system instability assessment.