Exploring the Impacts of Full-Scale Distribution System Orthophosphate Corrosion Control Implementation on the Microbial Ecology of Hydrologically Connected Urban Streams

Spencer‐Williams, Isaiah; Balangoda, Anusha; Dabundo, Richard; Elliott, Emily M.; Haig, Sarah–Jane

doi:10.1128/spectrum.02158-22

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…DNA was extracted from the stored filters using the FastDNA Spin Kit (MP Biomedicals, Solon, OH) and stored at −20 °C until use. The density (number of gene copies per unit volume of sample) of total bacteria and Cyanobacteria was determined using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) as previously described . Additional ddPCR assays for L.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The density (number of gene copies per unit volume of sample) of total bacteria and Cyanobacteria was determined using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) as previously described. 32 Additional ddPCR assays for L. pneumophila (Lmip gene), 33 P. aeruginosa (Orpl gene), 34 and NTM (atpE gene) 35 were conducted using previously published primers ( 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Sequencing. 16S rRNA gene amplicon (V4−V5 hypervariable region) library preparation and sequencing were performed on all samples (collected DWDS samples and negative controls) at Argonne National Laboratory following the Illumina Earth Microbiome Protocol.…”

Section: Sample Information and Orthophosphate Additionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the Impacts of Lead Corrosion Control on the Microbial Ecology and Abundance of Drinking-Water-Associated Pathogens in a Full-Scale Drinking Water Distribution System

Spencer-Williams,

Meyer,

DePas

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Increases in phosphate availability in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) from the use of phosphate-based corrosion control strategies may result in nutrient and microbial community composition shifts in the DWDS. This study assessed the year-long impacts of full-scale DWDS orthophosphate addition on both the microbial ecology and density of drinking-waterassociated pathogens that infect the immunocompromised (DWPIs). Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and droplet digital PCR, drinking water microbial community composition and DWPI density were examined. Microbial community composition analysis suggested significant compositional changes after the orthophosphate addition. Significant increases in total bacterial density were observed after orthophosphate addition, likely driven by a 2 log 10 increase in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Linear effect models confirmed the importance of phosphate addition with phosphorus concentration explaining 17% and 12% of the variance in NTM and L. pneumophila density, respectively. To elucidate the impact of phosphate on NTM aggregation, a comparison of planktonic and aggregate fractions of NTM cultures grown at varying phosphate concentrations was conducted. Aggregation assay results suggested that higher phosphate concentrations cause more disaggregation, and the interaction between phosphate and NTM is species specific. This work reveals new insight into the consequences of orthophosphate application on the DWDS microbiome and highlights the importance of proactively monitoring the DWDS for DWPIs.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sample Information and Orthophosphate Additionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Impacts of Lead Corrosion Control on the Microbial Ecology and Abundance of Drinking-Water-Associated Pathogens in a Full-Scale Drinking Water Distribution System

Spencer-Williams,

Meyer,

DePas

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Such regional differences could result in underestimating risk if the most appropriate species are not targeted (56,57). Due to the difficulties in identifying NTM to the species-or complex-level, drinking water studies often quantify total NTM, with many targeting the ATP synthase subunit c (atpE) gene (15,(58)(59)(60), or only investigating one or a few species of concern, such as M. avium or Mycobacterium intracellulare (19,22,61,62). Identification of NTM to the species level in colonies from plate culture is typically done using PCR and Sanger sequencing targeting genes such as β-subunit of RNA polymerase (rpoB) or heat shock protein 65 (hsp65) (63)(64)(65)(66).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Source-to-Tap Investigation of the Occurrence of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in a Full-Scale Chloraminated Drinking Water System

Dowdell,

Potgieter,

Olsen

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in drinking water are a significant public health concern. However, an incomplete understanding of the factors that influence the occurrence of NTM in drinking water limits our ability to characterize risk and prevent infection. This study sought to evaluate the influence of season and water treatment, distribution, and stagnation on NTM in drinking water. Samples were collected source-to-tap in a full-scale, chloraminated drinking water system approximately monthly from December 2019 to November 2020. NTM were characterized using culture-dependent (plate culture with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry [MALDI-TOF MS] isolate analysis) and culture-independent methods (quantitative PCR and genome resolved metagenomics). Sampling locations included source waters, three locations within the treatment plant, and five buildings receiving water from the distribution system. Building plumbing samples consisted of first draw, five-minute flush, and full flush cold-water samples. As the study took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the influence of reduced water usage in three of the five buildings was also investigated. The highest concentrations of NTM source-to-tap were found in the summer first draw building water samples (107gene copies/L), which also had the lowest chloramine concentrations. Flushing was found to be effective for reducing NTM and restoring disinfectant residuals, though flush times necessary to improve water quality varied by building. Clinically-relevant NTM species, includingMycobacterium avium, were recovered via plate culture, with increased occurrence observed in buildings with higher water age. Four of five NTM metagenome-assembled genomes were identified to the species level and matched identified isolates.

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Sewer subsidies from overflows and pipe leaks dominate urban stream solute loads in all storm events

Forgrave

Elliott

Bain

2023

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Stream channel burial drastically alters watershed flowpaths by routing surface waters underground and increasing the potential for interactions between stream water and urban infrastructure such as storm and sanitary sewers. While numerous studies have investigated storm event solute loads from urban watersheds, the influences of stream channel burial and sewer overflows are often overlooked. This study uses grab samples and natural abundance stable isotope tracers to quantify the event dynamics of solute concentration-discharge relationships as well as cumulative loads in a buried urban stream. Our results demonstrate that different solutes, as well as different sources of the same solute (atmospheric NO3− and sewer-derived NO3− differentiated by the Δ17O tracer), are delivered via separate watershed flowpaths and thus have different timings within the event and contrasting relationships to flow. This inter-event variability reveals dynamics that result from temporal and spatial heterogeneity in infiltration, exfiltration, and pipe overflows. These results can help guide system-wide infrastructure maintenance as cities seek to meet challenges in sustaining and improving water quality as infrastructural systems age.

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Exploring the Impacts of Full-Scale Distribution System Orthophosphate Corrosion Control Implementation on the Microbial Ecology of Hydrologically Connected Urban Streams

Abstract: Elevated lead levels in drinking water supplies are a public health risk. As such, it is imperative for cities to urgently address lead contamination from aging drinking water supplies by way of lead service line replacements and corrosion control methods.

Cited by 3 publications

References 78 publications

Assessing the Impacts of Lead Corrosion Control on the Microbial Ecology and Abundance of Drinking-Water-Associated Pathogens in a Full-Scale Drinking Water Distribution System

Assessing the Impacts of Lead Corrosion Control on the Microbial Ecology and Abundance of Drinking-Water-Associated Pathogens in a Full-Scale Drinking Water Distribution System

Source-to-Tap Investigation of the Occurrence of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in a Full-Scale Chloraminated Drinking Water System

Sewer subsidies from overflows and pipe leaks dominate urban stream solute loads in all storm events

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