Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026
07:25
High-throughput Screening of Chemical Compounds to Elucidate Their Effects on Bacterial Persistence
Published on: February 23, 2021
4.5K
Sewer Sediment Bacterial Communities Suggest Potential to Transform Persistent Organic Pollutants
Summary
Combined sewer sediments harbor diverse microbes capable of transforming contaminants. These microbial communities offer intrinsic wastewater treatment, reducing pollutant loads before reaching water resource recovery facilities.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Wastewater engineering
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Combined sewer sediments host diverse microbial communities.
- Sewer systems exhibit varying biogeochemical conditions and support redox processes.
- Recalcitrant xenobiotic contaminants can undergo transformation in sewers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize microbial communities in combined sewer sediments.
- To investigate the potential for in-situ bioremediation of contaminants within sewer systems.
- To assess the role of sewer microbes in reducing contaminant loads.
Main Methods:
- Illumina sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was performed on sediments from three combined sewer systems.
- Analysis of microbial community composition and its relation to biogeochemical conditions and contaminants.
- Identification of key microbial taxa, including potential indicator species and functional groups.
Main Results:
- Microbial diversity varied across the studied sewer systems, with 10,000 to 47,000 operational taxonomic units per sample.
- Human fecal indicator bacteria (Clostridiales, Bacteroidales) dominated in one system.
- Other systems showed microbial communities indicative of diverse redox processes, including reductive dechlorination.
- High abundances of Dehalococcoidetes were found in systems with known polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) biotransformation or elevated PCB concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Combined sewer systems possess intrinsic microbial communities with passive treatment capabilities.
- These microbial communities can transform xenobiotic contaminants, reducing the load on downstream facilities.
- Sewer systems play a role in mitigating contaminant impacts on receiving waters.
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