Every liter of regulation compliant tap water contains tens of millions of microorganisms that originate from source waters and migrate through the drinking water treatment plant, the drinking water distribution system, our home plumbing and our taps.  Most of these microorganisms mediate positive impacts such as removal of contaminants from drinking water sources, while others are opportunistic pathogens that have the potential to cause disease in immunocompromised individuals.  Several studies have shown the presence of respiratory tract opportunistic bacterial pathogens in drinking water, but there is limited information about which factors regulate their abundance from source to tap. In this study, we identified operational strategies and physical and chemical parameters that are associated with the occurrence of respiratory tract opportunistic bacterial pathogens in a full-scale drinking water treatment plant, its distribution system, and associated hot and cold water plumbing systems.<br/>

Explaining the presence of respiratory tract opportunistic bacterial pathogens in drinking water systems

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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