Investigating the Impact of Nitrogen Availability on Drinking Water Biofilter Performance and Disinfection Resistance
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Huo, Linxuan
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Abstract
Drinking water systems contain diverse and dynamic microbial communities. These microbial assemblages significantly influence water quality by modulating treatment efficiency and affecting the biological stability of drinking water in distribution systems. Biofilters serve as important mediators of microbial community composition by acting as a primary source of microbial seeding for downstream water. Additionally, chlorine-based disinfectants are widely to control biological stability and reduce the presence of pathogens. Although this process eradicates the majority of microbes detaching from biofilter biofilm, low levels of microorganisms with disinfection resistance persist in the water when they enter the distribution networks.
While previous research has explored various factors shaping microbial communities in biofilters, the role of nitrogen availability—particularly the differential effects of ammonia and nitrate— remains underexamined. Most studies have focused on organic carbon as a primary driver of microbial dynamics, while the influence of nitrogen species on microbial resilience, seeding potential, and disinfection resistance remains poorly understood. Microbial resistance to disinfection is a growing concern in drinking water distribution systems, as it can compromise the effectiveness of sanitation measures and pose a significant public health risk. Resistant microorganisms can persist in these systems, particularly under nutrient-limited conditions that drive physiological adaptations, enhancing survival. This persistence not only increases the risk of pathogen transmission but also raises challenges for maintaining microbial control throughout the distribution network. Given the essential role of biofilters in shaping microbial communities, understanding how nitrogen availability influences microbial composition and its downstream effects on disinfection resistance is critical for optimizing treatment strategies.
This study investigates the impact of nitrogen availability on microbial community structure, seeding potential, and disinfection resistance in drinking water biofilters. The goals of this study were (1) to investigate how different nitrogen species (ammonia vs. nitrate) influence microbial community composition and structures in biofilters, (2) to assess the seeding potential of biofilter communities under varying nitrogen conditions, (3) to determine whether disinfection resistance
was affected by nitrogen concentration differences and which factors played the key role in disinfection resistance, and (4) to identify active effluent community phenotype diversity changing
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2025-04-23
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