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Increased microbiological risks caused by extreme precipitation in a drinking water system in mountainous area: From
Xinyan Xiao1, Chen Cheng1, Xiuxiu Wang2
1College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Coastal Pollution Prevention and Control, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
Abstract:
The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation disrupt hydrological cycles and compromise drinking water safety. However, the detailed microbiological risks involved in the entire drinking water system under extreme precipitation remain unclear. This study implemented a one-year monitoring of an independent water supply system in a mountainous town (Fujian, China) to investigate the impacts of extreme precipitation on drinking water safety from source to tap. The assessment included quantification of culturable/viable bacteria, opportunistic pathogens, microbial community structure, and physicochemical parameters. The study revealed the following key findings: (1) Extreme precipitation increased culturable bacteria concentration in finished water by up to 48.4-fold, elevated the abundance of Mycobacterium spp. in the water supply system, and significantly enhanced the correlation between turbidity and viable bacteria. (2) The short-term impact-microbiological indicators in finished water required ≥ 14 d to recover, and turbidity needed ≥ 21 d to return to compliance. (3) The long-term impact-the influence of extreme precipitation on microbial community structure surpassed that of seasonal variation and even restructured the community composition. These findings highlight the disruptive effects of extreme precipitation on the entire drinking water supply system from source to tap, posing severe challenges to system resilience and drinking water safety. Drinking water treatment strategies and process designs must be specifically adapted to address the water quality risks induced by extreme precipitation events.
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