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Microbial biogeography of drinking water: patterns in phylogenetic diversity across space and time
Author(s) -
Roeselers Guus,
Coolen Jordy,
Wielen Paul W. J. J.,
Jaspers Marco C.,
Atsma Adrie,
Graaf Bendert,
Schuren Frank
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12739
Subject(s) - biology , water quality , ecology , community structure , microbial population biology , plankton , microbial ecology , raw water , distribution (mathematics) , phylogenetic diversity , phylogenetic tree , environmental science , bacteria , environmental engineering , mathematical analysis , biochemistry , genetics , mathematics , gene
Summary In this study, we collected water from different locations in 32 drinking water distribution networks in the N etherlands and analysed the spatial and temporal variation in microbial community composition by high‐throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. We observed that microbial community compositions of raw source and processed water were very different for each distribution network sampled. In each network, major differences in community compositions were observed between raw and processed water, although community structures of processed water did not differ substantially from end‐point tap water. End‐point water samples within the same distribution network revealed very similar community structures. Network‐specific communities were shown to be surprisingly stable in time. Biofilm communities sampled from domestic water metres varied distinctly between households and showed no resemblance to planktonic communities within the same distribution networks. Our findings demonstrate that high‐throughput sequencing provides a powerful and sensitive tool to probe microbial community composition in drinking water distribution systems. Furthermore, this approach can be used to quantitatively compare the microbial communities to match end‐point water samples to specific distribution networks. Insight in the ecology of drinking water distribution systems will facilitate the development of effective control strategies that will ensure safe and high‐quality drinking water.