Decision-Making Tools to Manage the Microbiology of Drinking Water Distribution Systems

Carpitella, Silvia; Olmo, Gonzalo Del; Izquierdo, Joaquín; Husband, Stewart; Boxall, Joby; Douterelo, Isabel

doi:10.3390/w12051247

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 47 publications

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“…When looking more closely at the composition of the biofilm bacterial communities, Proteobacteria dominated across all the loops, yet there were differences in the composition of the less abundant community members between the loops. Carpitella et al (2020) showed that it is not always the most abundant microorganisms that play a key role in determining the DWDS processes [57]. Thus, these "rare" community members could be influencers on the presence of specific FLA in a given biofilm, as observed in the Spearman correlations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Biofilm and Related Amoebas in an UK Chlorinated Drinking Water System

Olmo

Malinowski

Puzon

et al. 2021

Water

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Drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) can host pathogenic amoebae, but the role of biofilms in supporting the occurrence of these organisms needs to be fully explored in the UK systems. The presence of amoebae and associated bacteria in biofilms attached to inner pipe surfaces was studied in an experimental full-scale chlorinated distribution system in the UK. Quantitative polymerase change reaction (qPCR) was used to identify and quantify amoebae, whilst the bacterial communities in the biofilms were characterised by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Despite the maintenance of a chlorine residual in the network (free chlorine ≥ 0.24 mg/L), several species of amoebae belonging to the genera Acanthamoeba, Vermamoeba, and Naegleria were identified in 30-day-old biofilm samples; however, no amoebae were detected in the water samples analysed. The dominant bacterial communities present in the biofilm samples were Variovorax, Pseudomonas, and Aquabacterium. These results indicate that the biofilm samples contained potential pathogenic amoebae and bacteria, such as Acanthamoeba and Pseudomonas, respectively, which implies a potential public health risk if the biofilms are mobilised into the bulk water. Several of the amoebae identified in this study are able to support the presence of resistant bacteria that can remain viable within these prokaryotic organisms until they reach people’s taps. The identification of the microorganisms associated with the pathogenic amoeba species in biofilms could be used to improve the surveillance of DWDS in order to protect public health.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Biofilm and Related Amoebas in an UK Chlorinated Drinking Water System

Olmo

Malinowski

Puzon

et al. 2021

Water

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A strategic approach to safeguard global supply chains against COVID‐19 disruptions

Mzougui

Carpitella

Certa

et al. 2023

Math Methods in App Sciences

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The global system of supply chains has been dramatically disrupted over the last years due to the outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In these current challenging times, this paper proposes a methodological approach for managing dependence and uncertainty in dynamic industrial scenarios. A detailed study of epidemic effects is carried out according to an operational management‐based perspective. We proceed by analyzing connections among effects and risks potentially leading to significant supply chain disturbances through a multicriteria approach. Risks and effects are weighted by applying the Analytic Network Process (ANP). Weighted risks are then assumed as criteria for selecting the most suitable contingency strategy. To this aim, the Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) is able to rank a set of strategies by addressing and quantifying uncertainty. A case study on the sector of the automotive industry is implemented to validate the proposed methodological approach.

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