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Biofilm and sediment phases as key components of microbial community dynamics within secondary drinking water distribution systems
Summary
Despite its title referencing drinking water distribution systems and microbiome dynamics, this paper studies how bacterial communities in rooftop water storage tanks in Uruguay change over time across water, biofilm, and sediment — not microplastic pollution. It examines seasonal shifts in microbial diversity and antibiotic resistance pathways using metagenomic tools and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.
Abstract Background Secondary drinking water distribution systems (SDWDS), particularly rooftop storage tanks, are critical components of water supply infrastructure in many regions, yet the ecological processes governing microbial community development within these systems remain poorly characterized. Here we present a year-long, phase-resolved metagenomic study of an operational full-scale SDWDS in Uruguay to assess how environmental conditions and surface materials are associated with microbiome dynamics across bulk water, biofilm and sediment phases. We integrated amplicon sequencing, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) metagenomics, culture-based microbiology and physicochemical analyses over a one-year period. Results Microbial communities associated with biofilm and sediment phases consistently exhibited higher richness and diversity than bulk water, with marked seasonal variation. Biofilms formed on concrete and polyethylene surfaces followed distinct successional trajectories, indicating material-associated patterns in community development. Seasonal increases in temperature were associated with greater similarity in community composition across phases, while functional richness remained comparatively stable over time. Functional pathways related to energy production, stress response, and antibiotic resistance showed phase- and time-dependent enrichment, particularly in mature biofilms. Across the system, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Bacteroidota were persistent taxa. Temperature and pH were the primary variables associated with temporal shifts in water-phase microbial communities, with chlorine residuals contributing to additional variation. Conclusions Together, these findings provide in situ ecological insight into microbial succession and phase-specific community dynamics in drinking water storage systems, highlighting the importance of long-term observations in real-world engineered environments.